Blood Lead Levels in Residents Around Used Battery Recycling Industries and Their Correlation with Clinical Laboratory Findings

Abstract

Introduction: Lead exposure from used battery recycling factories has been reported to have major negative impacts on humans and the environment. This study aimed to evaluate blood lead levels and their association with hemoglobin, reticulocyte, albumin, urea, and creatinine levels in residents around a used battery recycling factory in Kadu Village, Tangerang Regency, Indonesia.

Objectives: By adopting a cross-sectional design and employing validated laboratory techniques, this research seeks to provide reliable evidence about the extent of lead toxicity and its clinical implications. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the health risks posed by lead exposure and to provide evidence-based recommendations for public health interventions.

Methods: The participants of this cross-sectional study were 40 residents of Kadu Village. Blood lead levels were measured using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy method. Albumin, urea, and creatinine levels were measured using a Cobas C311 spectrophotometer, while hemoglobin levels and reticulocyte counts were measured using a Sysmex XN-450 hematology analyzer.

Results: Median blood lead levels were 207.8 µg/L with a range of 126.6 - 379.3 µg/L. Participants who had hemoglobin levels below the reference values of 90 percent. Based on the Spearman test, blood lead levels were shown to have significant associations (p-value <0.05), respectively, with hemoglobin (r = -0.542), reticulocytes (r = 0.706), albumin (r = 0.609), urea (r = 0.665), and creatinine (r = 0.612).

Conclusions: Lead levels in residents around the used battery recycling factory in Kadu Village far exceed the threshold and be significantly associated with several important biomarkers. Apart from that, some residents are also starting to show signs of anemia. Further clinical treatment and community-based policies by the government are needed to eliminate lead exposure to residents.