Assessment of lead exposure among boilermakers in a ship repair company in Abidjan (Cte dIvoire)

Lead poisoning is one of the most concerning occupational diseases, given the increasing number of cases reported worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the level of lead exposure of boilermakers in a ship repair company in Abidjan. Data on socio-professional characteristics and preventive measures used by workers were collected through a questionnaire and observations of working conditions.  Blood was collected from 33 workers at the weekend for the measurement of blood lead levels and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), which are biomarkers for lead toxicity. Blood lead and ZPP assays were performed by mass spectrometry and fluorimetry respectively. All workers were male with an average age of 46.73 ± 6.70 years. The average blood lead level was 35.5 ± 20.5 µg/L. All workers had blood lead levels below the biological limit value set for exposed people, which is 200 µg/L. ZPP was detected in all workers with a mean value of 3.8 5± 1.04 µg/g of haemoglobin. This value is slightly higher than the interpretation limit value for unexposed people set at 3 µg/g of hemoglobin. Workers were generally provided with personal protective equipment. The low level of lead exposure in this company was linked to a relatively effective collective and individual prevention policy. Furthermore, due to the high toxicity of this heavy metal, all workers must be subject to regular biological monitoring. Also, atmospheric metrology should strengthen biomonitoring to ensure the health and safety of workers in this company. Key words: Lead, exposure, blood lead levels, zinc protoporphyrin, occupational disease.