The suitability of EBC-Pb as a new biomarker to assess occupational exposure to lead

Occupational exposure to lead (Pb) requires continuous surveillance to assure, as much as possible, safe and healthful working conditions. This study addresses the suitability of assessing Pb exposure in relevant workers using their exhaled breath condensate (EBC). This study enrolled workers of two different Pb processing industries characterized by moderate and high Pb exposure levels in the work environment, and a group of non-exposed individuals working in offices who served as baseline for Pb exposure. The EBC-Pb of workers reflected the Pb levels in the work environment of all three settings, although the relationship with B-Pb was not clear. The lack of correlation between EBC-Pb and B-Pb most probably indicates the time lag for Pb to enter in the two body pools. The EBC-Pb seems to reflect immediate exposure, providing a prompt signature of Pb in the environmental that may interact directly with the organ. By delivering short-term evaluation of exposure, EBC-Pb represents a clear advantage in biomonitoring and may become an interesting tool for estimating organ burden.     

湖北地区孕妇血铅水平及其对子代影响的研究

对湖北地区非职业铅接触的９０名孕妇和新生儿血铅及生长发育情况进行了追踪调查。结果显示：孕２８周内血铅水平为０．２９０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ,分娩前为０．３２６μｍｏｌ／Ｌ,孕期血铅水平呈增高趋势。新生儿脐血血铅含量为０．３３３μｍｏｌ／Ｌ,其中１７．８％的新生儿脐血血铅含量高于０．４８３μｍｏｌ／Ｌ。逐步回归分析显示新生儿脐血血铅含量（Ｙ３）与孕２８周内血铅（Ｙ１）及分娩前血铅（Ｙ２）均有高度线性关系：Ｙ３