DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i01.026

Pages: 121-126

Increased use of pesticides and contaminated water in the agriculture in the modern society has highlighted on the putative role of metals in the development of chronic disorders in urban area. This study was carried out to assess the influence of working area and time period for exposure on metals deposition in acute (blood) among Industrial and Office workers in Hail, KSA. The study was conducted on a group of 160 male volunteers, 80 hand workers in industrial factories and 80 office workers in residential regions of Hail city aged between 20 and 66 years old, workers were divided into three subgroups according to age. Blood samples were analyzed for Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Fe levels using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Mean lead concentration for industrial workers was 0.81 µg/L with a significant increase (r=0.42 p<0.001) when compared with B-Pb office workers. H-Pb levels were significantly influenced by duration of exposure (p<0.05), whereas, B-Pb levels were not significantly correlated with Zn, Cu, Cd, and Fe levels. In addition, there was an exponential increase in B-Pb levels in age groups in proportion of 55% in comparison between age 1 group and age 3 groups.