Sweat Lead Levels in Persons with High Blood Lead Levels: Lead in Sweat of Lead Workers in the Tropics
Omokhodion FO, Howard JM
Sci. Tot. Env. 1991; 103:123-128
Abstract
Samples of blood, sweat and urine were collected from eight control subjects and 19 lead workers in a battery manufacturing factory in the tropics. Sweat samples were collected while workers cycled on a bicycle ergometer at room temperature (27-31ºC). All samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Workers with blood lead levels of 13-36µg/dl had sweat levels of 72-256µg/l and urinary levels of 28-288µg/g creatinine, while controls had levels of 9-12.2µg/dl, 9-30µg/l and 9-19.6µg/g creatinine, respectively. Estimations of sweat lead in lead workers can be masked by skin contamination.