Air and Blood Lead Levels in Lead Acid Battery Recycling and Manufacturing Plants in Kenya

Abstract

The concentration of airborne and blood lead (Pb) was assessed in a Pb acid battery recycling plant and in a Pb acid battery manufacturing plant in Kenya. In the recycling plant, full-shift area samples taken across 5 days in several production sections showed a mean value ± standard deviation (SD) of 427 ± 124 μg/m³, while area samples in the office area had a mean ± SD of 59.2 ± 22.7 μg/m³. In the battery manufacturing plant, full-shift area samples taken across 5 days in several production areas showed a mean value ± SD of 349 ± 107 μg/m³, while area samples in the office area had a mean ± SD of 55.2 ± 33.2 μg/m³. All these mean values exceed the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit of 50 μg/m³ as an 8-hr time-weighted average. In the battery recycling plant, production workers had a mean blood Pb level ± SD of 62.2 ± 12.7 μg/dL, and office workers had a mean blood Pb level ± SD of 43.4 ± 6.6 μg/dL. In the battery manufacturing plant, production workers had a mean blood Pb level ± SD of 59.5 ± 10.1 μg/dL, and office workers had a mean blood Pb level ± SD of 41.6 ± 7.4 μg/dL. All the measured blood Pb levels exceeded 30 μg/dL, which is the maximum blood Pb level recommended by the ACGIH®. Observations made in these facilities revealed numerous sources of Pb exposure due to inadequacies in engineering controls, work practices, respirator use, and personal hygiene.

Keywords:

• airborne lead
• battery manufacturing
• battery recycling
• blood lead level

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are indebted to the National Council for Science and Technology Innovation Research Grant for financial support and approvals for research, and to the Ministry of Medical Services, Office of the Director Medical Services, Nairobi, for issuing relevant permits. The authors acknowledge the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services, the Mines and Geological Department, the University of Nairobi, and the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) for providing technical support. Finally, we thank Dr. Ravi Sharma of Aga Khan University Hospital, and the employee participants and managers of the two surveyed plants.