Blood lead level, cognitive and psychomotor activity in lead exposed battery workers

Abstract

Abstract Lead, a systemic toxicant affecting virtually every organ system, primarily affects the central nervous system. The aim of the present study was to determine and compare blood lead level, cognitive and psychomotor ability level in the non-exposed subjects and lead-exposed battery workers and to find out the relationship between these parameters in the lead-exposed battery workers. This cross-sectional study included 28 non-exposed subjects and 28 lead-exposed battery workers from small-scale battery workplaces in Insein and North Okkalapa Townships. The blood lead level (BLL) was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The cognitive ability was assessed by using three subtests from the General Memory Scale (GMS). The psychomotor ability tests composed of digit symbol, Bourdon-Wiersma vigilance test and the Santa Ana dexterity test. The mean BLL of the lead-exposed battery workers (4.25±3.87 μg/dL) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of the non-exposed subjects (2.14±1.02 μg/dL). After matching age, sex, socio-economic status and educational level, it was found that mean scores of cognitive and psychomotor ability tests (digit span, paired associate learning and Santa Ana dexterity) of the lead-exposed battery workers were significantly lower than those of the non-exposed subjects. It was concluded that even low lead exposure could reduce the cognitive and psychomotor abilities, especially in attention, concentration, short-term memory and perceptual motor ability domains in adult male workers.