Assessment of potters' occupational exposure to lead and associated risk factors in Maragogipinho, Brazil: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Lead (Pb) is used as a flux in the glazing process of pottery utensils in several regions of the world. It can affect the nervous and hematopoietic systems; in addition, it is classified as a probable human carcinogen. This work aims to evaluate Pb exposure of potters and describe the main determinants of elevated blood Pb (PbB) levels in this group of workers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with potters of Maragogipinho Village, Bahia, Brazil, of both sexes, aged 16-72 years (n = 85). Non-exposed workers of the same age range residing in the urban area of Aratuípe town were also recruited (n = 50). We evaluated Pb dust deposition rates (PbDrt) in pottery workshops and PbB levels. All Pb measurements were performed by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. RESULTS: The median of PbB (min-max) and geometric mean (SD) PbDrt for the exposed group were 7.9 (0.9-49.8) µg/dL and 1463 (± 290,000) µg/m2/30 days, respectively. For the control group, levels were 1.5 (0.1-19.8) µg/dL and 82 (46) µg/m2 30 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: The data found showed an excessive exposure among artisans, exceeding occupationally safe levels and those reported in the literature. It is important to implement occupational hygiene measures and improvements of the working conditions of these labors, especially the replacement of lead oxide in the pottery-glazing process.

Zinc-protoporphyrin determination by HPLC with fluorescence detection as a biomarker of lead effect in artisanal pottery workers.

Lead (Pb) exposure compromises heme synthesis by inhibiting ferrochelatase, forming zinc-protoporphyrin (ZnPP). This study aims to validate a method for the determination of ZnPP by HPLC with fluorescence detection and apply this method to evaluate the extent of Pb exposure of artisanal pottery workers. Extraction procedures were tested using both nonacid and acid liquid-liquid extraction. The former presented a better chromatogram and recovery results. The validated method yielded a good resolution of ZnPP and its free form peaks with acceptable precision and accuracy. Total run time was 15 min and ZnPP peak retention time was 5.6 min. We applied this method to evaluate 39 potters (90% male), mean age 40 years (9-80). The medians (ranges) of blood lead, ZnPP and hemoglobin were 16.0 µg/dl (2.2-71.5), 12.6 µg/dl (4.6-279.8) and 15.1 g/dl (11.0-17.8), respectively. Significant differences were observed for blood lead according to gender, age range (>40 years), direct handling of lead oxide and years of occupation. Significantly higher levels of ZnPP were observed in male potters involved with lead glazing activity. The validated method was shown to be simple with one-step nonacid extraction, good sensitivity, reproducibility and accuracy. Our data shows that these laborers are dangerously exposed to Pb, reflecting the effect on the heme synthesis.