Effects of lead exposure on the lung volume of automobile battery workers in Anambra State

Exposure to a heavy metal such as lead may induce various respiratory symptoms. Even though automobile battery recycling, repairs and lead smelting are common in Anambra State, there is no study on the effects of lead exposure on lung volumes of automobile battery workers in Anambra State of Nigeria. Hence, the need to carry out this research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lead exposure on the lung volumes of automobile battery workers in Anambra State. Respiratory symptoms were evaluated in a sample of two hundred respondents consisting of one hundred lead exposed workers and one hundred control subjects with similar ages using a pre-tested questionnaire. Height of the participants were measured using meter rule. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were measured in the test group and in control group using a spirometer. Criterion for statistical significance was p ≤ 0.05. The result of this study showed a decrease in the mean value of peak expiratory flow (PEFR) in the test sgroup (297.74±81.29L/min) compared to control group (379.93±86.57L/min). This decrease was significant (p = 0.000). The results of this study showed that exposure to lead has significant effects on the lung volumes of automobile battery workers in Anambra State. The result of the study revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between height and forced expiratory volume in one second in the test group. Lead exposure may be responsible for respiratory symptoms in automobile battery workers.