The Relationship between Psychosocial Distress and Lead Exposure Indices in Lead Workers.
- Author:
Yong Bae KIM
;
Hyun Cheol AHN
;
Young HWANGBO
;
Gap Soo LEE
;
Kyu Yoon HWANG
;
Sung Soo LEE
;
Kyu Dong AHN
;
Byung Kook LEE
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Psychosocial distress;
Blood lead;
Zinc protoporphyrin
- MeSH:
Humans;
Osmeriformes;
Questionnaires;
Research Subjects;
Zinc
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2000;12(1):128-138
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to assess psychosocial distress of lead workers and to examine the relationship between lead exposure indices and psychosocial distress. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional and research subjects were 234 lead workers in primary smelting industry. General characteristics, job characteristics and social support were obtained by self-administered questionnaire and history taking. Psychosocial distress was measured using PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index), a 45-item self-administered instrument. Blood lead(PbB), zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP), -aminolevulinic acid in urine(ALAU) were selected as indicators of lead exposure. RESULTS: There was significant difference in PWI according to lead exposure level and job characteristics. The results of correlation analysis showed that PWI was significantly correlated with PbB(r=0.203, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Our results supported the association between lead exposure and psychosocial distress. The inclusion of psychosocial distress measurement as a special health examination for lead workers was highly recommended for the effective health management.
