CIGARETTE SMOKING AND BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED WORKERS

The relationship of cigarette smoking and other factors (amount of cigarette consumption, cigarette location during the work day, percent predicted FEV1, percent predicted FVC, and median departmental air lead (PbA) to blood lead (PbB), urinary amino-levulinic acid (ALA-U), and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) in occupationally exposed workers was investigated. Production workers from two storage battery plants and one secondary lead smelter were surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. An overall response rate of 74 percent was achieved. Respondents were quite similar to nonrespondents with respect to year of employment, ethnicity, and blood lead level.; The data were examined for the battery plant and smelter workers separately. Among battery workers smokers had a significantly higher mean PbB than nonsmokers. When stratified by degree of smoking, heavy smokers had higher mean FbB levels than both nonsmokers and light smokers. Differences were not observed by smoking habit for ALA-U or ZPP. In both low and high PbA areas smokers had significantly higher mean PbB levels than nonsmokers. Urinary ALA was significantly higher in heavy smokers versus nonsmokers among those in low PbA areas. No differences in mean PbB was observed between those keeping their cigarettes in the workplace versus those not doing so.; Workers were compared on the basis of their predicted FEV1 and FVC (less than 90% of predicted versus greater than 90% of predicted). Mean PbB and ZPP did not differ between FEV1 or FVC groups. Workers in the "high" FEV1 group had a significantly higher mean ALA-U than those in the "low" FEV1 group. Among Hispanic workers smokers had significantly higher mean PbB levels than nonsmokers. Heavy smokers had significantly higher mean PbB levels than either light smokers or nonsmokers among Hispanics. No differences were observed in mean PbB or ALA-U among smelter workers when compared by smoking status, PbA, cigarette location during the work day, FEV1, or FVC.; An historical cohort was constructed from the battery and smelter respondents. Mean longitudinal PbB and ALA-U levels were compared by smoking status. Among battery workers mean PbB and ALA-U increased at a faster rate in smokers than nonsmokers. Heavy smokers mean PbB and ALA-U increased faster than light smokers or nonsmokers. No consistent patterns were observed in the rates of increase of PbB or ALA-U by smoking status in smelter workers.