Blood Lead Concentration of Taxi Drivers in Taegu, Korea.
- Author:
Kun SAKONG
1
;
Pock Soo KANG
;
Jong Hak CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Youngnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Blood lead;
Taxi driver
- MeSH:
Aerosols;
Daegu*;
Korea*;
Nebulizers and Vaporizers
- From:Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine
1990;23(3):255-261
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Taxi drivers are exposed to vehicular exhaust aerosols which are a major source of atmospheric lead pollution in Korea where lead additives are incorporated in petrol. To investigate the blood lead concentration, their correlation factors and influences on taxi drivers, samples were collected from 90 taxi drivers who were living in the Taegu City, during August, 1989. Blood lead concentration was estimated by the atomic absoption spectrophotometer (IL.551) equipped with flameless furnace atomizer (IL.665). The results were analyzed statistically and compared with control group were 26.34 +/- 6.53 microgram/dl and 20.77 +/- 4.80 microgram/dl respectively (p<0.01). No significant correlation was observed between the blood lead concentration of taxi drivers and driver career (r=0.093). There were no difference of statistical significance in the blood lead concentration of smokers and nonsmokers.
