Pilot survey on blood lead levels in non-occupationally exposed workers at a CDC in Vietnam using the GF-AAS technique

Objective: The present study aimed to develop an analytical method for detecting trace amounts to elevated levels of lead in human blood using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GF-AAS) technique and to apply this method in evaluating blood lead levels (BLLs) of non-occupationally exposed workers at a CDC in Vietnam in 2023. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was applied. Validation of a GF-AAS method was performed on the basis of the Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC) guidelines, and BLLs of 30 non-occupationally exposed workers were measured. Results: The results showed that all validation parameters of the analytical method in this study meet the requirements of the Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Evaluation of BLLs of non-occupationally exposed workers found that most workers has lead in their blood with the proportion of 93.0%. The min and max value of BLLs was in the range of 0 to 2.693 µg/dL. There was 13.3% of workers with the BLLs > 5.0 µg/dL, which is the level used for indicating an elevated BLL for surveillance purposes. Conclusions: The GF-AAS method has both high accuracy and precision and meets the AOAC requirements for analysis of BLLs. The measured BLLs of non-occupationally exposed workers suggests that surveillance purposes for a large population in Vietnam are needed for health risk assessment in the future.