Relation between Blood Lead Levels and Anemia in lead-exposed battery workers of Lucknow City

Introduction: The prevalence of anemia, especially anemia due to iron deficiency, is very high in developing countries such as India. Lead has been recognized as a poison for millennia and has been the focus of public health regulation in much of the developed world for the better part of the past century. Anemia in children is also a substantial problem in India, and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Method: The study was conducted on 135 subjects divided into study and control groups. The inclusion criteria for study group were age between 20 to 40 years, exposure to Lead (Pb) more than five years, BMI less than 25 and having no any systemic diseases. The lead exposed subjects were taken from battery workshops of Lucknow city. Recruited subject were explained about the study protocol. Result: The mean Pb level in cases was found significantly (p<0.001) different and exceptionally higher as compared to controls. In contrast, the mean hemoglobin (Hb%) level in cases was found significantly (p<0.001) different and lower as compared to controls. Discussion: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of increased blood lead level and correlate with hemoglobin level in battery workers of Lucknow city. We hypothesized that increased blood lead level causes Anemia in battery workers; to test our hypothesis we tested hemoglobin level in chronic lead acid battery workers. We found those battery workers who were exposed = 10 years have decrease hemoglobin level in body and they all are become Anemic. Conclusion: In this study, relatively higher blood lead levels in lead exposed battery workers were significantly associated with elevated risk of moderate and severe anemia.