RISK ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METAL LEAD (PB) EXPOSURE THROUGH INHALATION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE HEME SYNTHESIS PATHWAYS IN PAINT INDUSTRY WORKERS

• Main Author: Janet Yapfrine, Sharnella
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/73702
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Several paint products circulating in Indonesian market still contain quite high Pb content, even exceeding the standard regulated in SNI 8011-2014. Therefore, the paint industries which still use Pb as an ingredient for pigments and coloring can be considered as the source of Pb occupational exposure for paint industry workers. The dominant occupational exposure route of Pb is via inhalation. Pb is known for its toxicity for almost all body organs and Pb is also classified as probably carcinogen by IARC. Blood lead levels (BLLs) and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity are considered biomarkers of lead exposure and lead toxicity respectively. One of the effects of Pb intake is inhibition of the deltaALAD enzyme which plays a role in the heme synthesis process. Thus, this study aims to assess the health risks of occupational Pb exposure in paint industry workers via inhalation using the principles of health risk analysis and to determine the association of lead exposure and heme synthesis process in paint industry workers by observing the accumulation of urinary ALA (ALA-U) molecules. The inhaled lead was measured in workers’ breathing zone using personal sampler and analyzed with EDXRF. Mean inhaled lead exposure was 0.1685±0.12 µg/m3 with the estimated mean of inhaled lead intake was 0.0123±0.01 µg/kg-day. The carcinogen risk was quantified in ELCR (Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk), while the non-carcinogen risk was quantified in HQ (Hazard Quotient). It was found that the maximum ELCR among all workers are 0.39´10-6, implying acceptable risk. Meanwhile, there is one worker with the HQ values exceeding 1. Thus, the risk management measures are suggested. BLLs was measured using ICP-MS and ALAU was measured using spectrophotometry method. Mean BLLs was 4.22±1.6 µg/L. Mean ALA-U level was 3.712±2.5 mg/L; and 11 workers (11.54%) crossed the normal level of 6 mg/L but still classified as acceptable. The correlation between the exposure concentration and the BLLs was negative, while the correlation between the BLL and the ALA-U level was positive but not significant. This study shows that the occupational exposure of lead in paint industry has not reached a limit that significantly disrupts the heme synthesis. However, the occupational lead exposure through inhalation must be monitored because there is indication of an increase in ALA-U due to increase in inhaled lead concentration.