Assessment of Environmental Lead Pollution in Traffic Policemen, Mechanics and Vehicles Owners Blood at Al-Dueim City, Sudan

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine lead levels in blood of traffic policemen, workers in vehicles maintenance workshops and owners of motor vehicles.  The study aimed to assess the lead concentration in Al- Dueim city environment around  traffic policemen, workers in vehicles maintenance workshops and automobile laundry. The study was carried out in Al- Dueim city which lies on west bank of White Nile, Sudan in June 2018. Twenty samples of venous blood were taken from ten male traffic policemen    aged from 38 to 50 years and their work duration (3-30 years), five workers in vehicles maintenance workshops, in addition to five vehicles     owners. Complete Blood Count device was used to determine haemoglobin levels in the samples. The results ranged from 13.4 g/dl to 16.1g/dl for policemen. Haemoglobin levels for most are within normal range.  For estimation of the lead concentration, the samples collected were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Lead levels in traffic policemen blood is 0.27+0.28 between 0.017 - 0.360ppm. One of traffic policemen was above the acceptable level (0.36mg/m3) age 41 and years of services 14. Three of workers workers in vehicles maintenance workshops and automobile laundry and two of citizens exceeded the safety limit.