Cigarette smoking and lead levels in occupationally exposed lead workers

One hundred eleven workers at a secondary Pb smelter were surveyed to determine smoking and personal hygiene habits. Fifty-three percent of the smokers had blood Pb levels in excess of 60 micrograms/dl, compared to 31% of nonsmokers (p = 0.02). Among smokers, 66% of "heavy" smokers (greater than or equal to 1 pack a day) had blood Pb levels over 60 micrograms/dl, compared to 39% of the "light" smokers (p = 0.05). Those who kept their cigarettes on their person had a higher proportion of blood Pb greater than 60 micrograms/dl than workers who kept their cigarettes elsewhere (63 versus 36%, respectively; p = 0.08). The difference in blood Pb levels between smokers and nonsmokers may be due in part to direct environmental contamination of cigarettes or impaired lung clearance mechanisms, and could be important in workers with already elevated blood Pb levels.