2006 Volume 17 Issue 4 Pages 413-416
In the present study, lead concentrations were determined in human blood collected from cities, dumping sites and reference sites in South India, North Vietnam and Cambodia. To evaluate human health effect of lead exposure, the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activities were also measured. Concentrations of lead in human blood ranged from 2.33 μg/dl to 27.4 μg/dl. Especially, concentrations in blood of residents from Perungudi (waste dumping site) and Palaverkadu (farming village) in South India were higher than those from other regions or those reported previously. Concentrations of lead in blood of some residents exceeded the threshold levels which can induce hypertension in adult and inhibit development of intelligence in fetus. Furthermore, significant negative correlations between blood lead levels and ALAD activities were observed in the residents from all the three countries, indicating possible suppression of that heme biosynthesis by lead in these residents.
