Sweat lead levels in persons with high blood lead levels: lead in sweat of lead workers in the tropics

Samples of blood, sweat and urine were collected from eight control subjects and 19 lead workers in a battery manufacturing factory in the tropics. Sweat samples were collected while workers cycled on a bicycle ergometer at room temperature (27-31 degrees C). All samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Workers with blood lead levels of 13-36 micrograms dl-1 had sweat levels of 72-256 micrograms l-1 and urinary levels of 28-288 micrograms/g creatinine, while controls had levels of 9-12.2 micrograms dl-1, 9-30 micrograms l-1 and 9-19.6 microgram/g creatinine, respectively. Estimations of sweat lead in lead workers can be masked by skin contamination.