Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Lead Among Workers in City Bus Garage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: One of the most unusable chemical exposures that occurred in automotive garage areas was lead. Occupational exposure of garage workers to lead dust commonly poses acute and chronic health risks that can be prevented. In Ethiopia, there have been limited studies on lead exposure among garage workers. Moreover, it overemphasized that workers are more exposed than non-garage workers to lead exposure. This study aims to assess the occupational lead levels in the blood and associated factors among garage workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was used to examine the BLL of 36 randomly selected garage workers by comparing them with 34 office workers who are matched by age and sex approximately. Specimens of blood and associated factors were collected by trained medical laboratory experts. The blood lead levels were measured in a certified laboratory using an MP-AES device. Finally, the data were analyzed using SSP Version 26. Results: The mean age of exposed groups was 39.0 ±7.5 years, whereas the unexposed groups were 38.0 ±6.1 years. The mean blood lead level of exposed groups (29.7±12.2) µg/dl was statistically significant as compared to the mean blood lead level of unexposed groups (14.8±9.9) µg/dl. Both exposed and unexposed groups had no a statistically significant value in their occupational job positions. Of all the study participants, only 8 (22.2%) of exposed groups had high blood lead level than WHO and OSHA recommended limit (40µg/dl). The main statistically significant factors that increased the exposure of blood lead level of workers were extra working hours, long service years and prior employment in a garage. Conclusions:There was a statistically significant difference among garage workers on their blood lead level (BLL) as compared to non-garage workers. Hence, it is advised that the garage management should apply good exposure prevention mechanisms and OSH training to workers.