RESUMO
To assess the potential health risk caused by heavy metals twenty-six blood samples were collected from plastic industry workers based on ages and smoking status in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Heavy metals were analyzed with an atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean concentrations of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) found in blood samples of the exposed workers were 32.78 ± 9.47, 1.08 ± 0.47, 1.42 ± 1.01, and 9.08 ± 1.95 µgL-1, respectively. The average heavy metal concentrations in blood samples of smoking workers show a narrow range of fluctuation than that of non-smoking workers. A review of different age groups of industry workers shows the workers between the ages of 26 and 40 are more likely to contaminated with Pb (35.90 ± 8.06 µgL-1) and Ni (1.61 ± 1.31 µgL-1). The higher level of Cd (1.26 ± 0.46 µgL-1) and Zn (9.91 ± 2.80 µgL-1) was found in >40 years old workers. The mean concentration in indoor dust samples of different industrial subsections reported as 40.27 ± 10.33, 3.24 ± 0.83, 18.08 ± 3.61, and 103.64 ± 8.16 mg kg-1 for Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn, respectively. Exposed workers have relatively less critical health implications concluded from the average daily intake (ADI), hazard quotient (HQs), and hazard index (HI) values. The HI values of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn were reported as 2.0 × 10-2, 4.64 × 10-4, 1.62 × 10-3, and 5.49 × 10-4, respectively, which have imparted minimal risks (as HI < 1) to the health of the workers. The cancer risks of Pb, Cd, and Ni were reported as 1.46 × 10-10, 1.77 × 10-9, and 1.31 × 10-9, respectively lower than the threshold values. Therefore, the result divulged a potentially lower cancer risk compared to EPA limit value of 1 × 10-6 to 1 × 10-4 for exposed industrial workers.