![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Erythrocyte ALA-dehydratase (ALAD) activity and blood lead levels were studied in different groups of subjects not occupationally exposed to lead, ie, male and female clerical workers, traffic policemen, motorway tollgate attendants, and chronic alcoholics in comparison with values obtained in workers in a lead- using industry.
Among the subjects without occupational exposure to lead, the highest mean values of erythrocyte ALAD activity and the lowest mean values of lead in the blood were found in female clerical workers. Progressively lower mean values of ALAD activity and conversely higher mean values of lead in the blood were observed in the male clerical workers, traffic policemen, motorway tollgate attendants, and chronic alcoholics.
In workers occupationally, exposed to lead, erythrocyte ALAD activity undergoes much greater reductions not only in the manifest phases of lead poisoning but even at the very beginning of exposure, and ALAD remains reduced even some time after exposure has ceased.