Cigarette smoking and lead levels in occupationally exposed lead workers

Abstract

One hundred eleven workers at a secondary Pb smelter were surveyed to determine smoking and personal hygiene habits. Fifty‐three percent of the smokers had blood Pb levels in excess of 60 μg/dl, compared to 31% of nonsmokers (p = 0.02). Among smokers, 66% of “heavy” smokers (≥ 1 pack a day) had blood Pb levels over 60 μg/dl, compared to 39% of the “light” smokers (p = 0.05). Those who kept their cigarettes on their person had a higher proportion of blood Pb greater than 60 μg/dl than workers who kept their cigarettes elsewhere (63 versus 36%, respectively; p = 0.08). The difference in blood Pb levels between smokers and nonsmokers may be due in part to direct environmental contamination of cigarettes or impaired lung clearance mechanisms, and could be important in workers with already elevated blood Pb levels.