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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Training Rats to Voluntarily Dive Underwater: Investigations of the Mammalian Diving Response
Published on: November 12, 2014
Blood lead levels in scuba divers: a pilot study
Thorsten Janisch1, Rüdger Kopp2
1Specialist anaesthetist, Department of Intensive Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany, Phone: +49-(0)241-80-35385, Fax: +49-(0)241-80-3380444,
Introduction:
Lead is a toxic element which is known to accumulate in the body. Nevertheless, it is very widely used as a diving weight.
Methods:
Blood samples were taken from 20 recreational scuba divers to assess blood lead concentrations.
Results:
The last dive before blood sampling was an average of 4.8 weeks previously (range 1-18 weeks). All the samples were within the normal background range, the highest lead concentration being 44.8 µg∙L⁻¹ with an average concentration of 26.5 µg∙L⁻¹ (range 11.7-44.8 µg∙L⁻¹).
Conclusions:
The results show no elevated blood lead concentrations in this group of divers compared to background levels. However, owing to the small number of divers studied and the variable, often long interval between the last dive and blood sampling, the results cannot be generalized.
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