1994 Volume 32 Issue 2 Pages 67-78
Blood and urine samples from cloisonne ware workers were assayed for Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, Sb, Co ad Cu for biological monitoring. Mean blood Pb levels were 47.8 ±27.3 μg/dl (111-13.3 μg/dl) for 49 cloisonne glaze workers, and 0.97 ± 0.47 pg/dl (2.4-0.6 μg/dl) for 62 normal subjects. There was a distinct difference between the 2 groups, and slight differences (p < 0.01) in mean Cr, Cd and Mn levels. There was a distinct difference in mean urinary Pb level between the 2 groups, and slight differences (p < 0.01) in mean Cr, Cd and Mn levels. The correlation coefficient, r, between blood Pb and Cd levels was 0.631 (p < 0.01) for 132 subjects consisting of cloisonne ware workers and normal subjects. r between blood Pb and blood Cr levels was 0.501 (p < 0.01), and that between blood and urinary Pb levels, 0.794 (p < 0.01). The above assays showed that glaze workers at cloisonne plants suffer severe exposure to lead and slight exposure to Cd and Cr.
