The suitability of EBC-Pb as a new biomarker to assess occupational exposure to lead

Abstract

Occupational exposure to lead (Pb) requires continuous surveillance to assure, as much as possible, safe and healthful working conditions. This study addresses the suitability of assessing Pb exposure in relevant workers using their exhaled breath condensate (EBC). This study enrolled workers of two different Pb processing industries characterized by moderate and high Pb exposure levels in the work environment, and a group of non-exposed individuals working in offices who served as baseline for Pb exposure. The EBC-Pb of workers reflected the Pb levels in the work environment of all three settings, although the relationship with B-Pb was not clear. The lack of correlation between EBC-Pb and B-Pb most probably indicates the time lag for Pb to enter in the two body pools. The EBC-Pb seems to reflect immediate exposure, providing a prompt signature of Pb in the environmental that may interact directly with the organ. By delivering short-term evaluation of exposure, EBC-Pb represents a clear advantage in biomonitoring and may become an interesting tool for estimating organ burden.

Keywords:

• exhaled breath condensate
• biomarker of exposure
• lead
• blood-Pb
• occupational exposure

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for funding the project PTDC/AMB/65828/2006 – Exhaled breath condensate: a tool for non-invasive evaluation of pollutant exposure? The authors thank Dr Marta Santos for the fruitful discussions and expertise in the ICP-MS.