Assessment of lead exposure among automobile technicians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Highlights: • Workers in automobile repair shops in 5 cities in Pakistan have elevated levels of lead in blood, hair, and nails. • The blood lead levels (BLL) for more than half of the workers exceed 50 μg dL^-1 and require intervention. • Specific task performed by the workers, such as painting or mechanic, did not influence the average levels of Pb exposure. • The workers were unaware of their exposure to lead, and few repair shops offered hygiene for prevention of contamination. Exposure to Pb among automobile technicians in selected towns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, was studied using a questionnaire, biological sampling (blood, hair, nails), and analysis of Pb biomonitoring data across various subgroups of occupation, age, and years of exposure. The study population included exposed automobile technicians (n = 50) and a control group (n = 50). The automobile technicians were further stratified into 4 groups: mechanics, auto-body technicians, electricians, and painters. Mean Pb levels in biological samples of the automobile technicians were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). The Pb concentrations (mean ± standard deviation) in whole blood, hair, and nails of automobile technicians were 65.3 ± 41.9 μg dL⁻¹, 23.6 ± 11.2 mg kg⁻¹ and 29.7 ± 14.5 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, whereas concentrations in the control group were 21.7 ± 17.6 μg dL⁻¹, 4.8 ± 3.4 mg kg⁻¹ and 7.2 ± 3.9 mg kg⁻¹. Fifty two percent of the automobile technicians had blood levels >50 μg dL⁻¹, but only 14% of the control group exceeded this level. Considering that Pb blood levels of 50 μg dL⁻¹ exceed maximum concentrations recommended by leading public health organizations, appropriate measures should be taken to protect the welfare of the exposed automobile technicians and their families.