[Pulmonary ventilation and lead absorption in workers of non-ferrous metallurgical plants]

The biological response to lead, taking into account pulmonary ventilation values, has been checked in nonferrous metal plant workers. Except for lead rolling-mill workers, increased blood lead, decreased delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity in erythrocytes, and increased urinary excretion of lead, delta-aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin were found in the metallurgists. The intensity of the biological response to lead was dependent on pulmonary ventilation. A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between these indices. With extensive correlation studies, a lead dose was calculated that is probably absorbed in the respiratory tract during a6-hr shift. This dose ranges between 352 -- 1056 mu g in lead refiners exposed to identical airborne lead concentration (0.163 mg/Pb/m3), the degree of physical effort being different (pulmonary ventilation from 11.8 -- 35.8 1/min). The authors indicate a need for including -- to a greater extent than so far -- pulmonary ventilation measurements in lead exposure evaluation.