Occupational exposure to inorganic lead in Malaysian battery-manufacturing factories

A study was carried out by the Factories and Machinery Department of Malaysia to assess the problem ofoccupational exposure to inorganic lead in Malaysian battery workers. The eight factories studied were divided into two categories: large, multinational subsidiaries with good industrial hygiene measures and small, locally-owned companies with poor hygiene features. A total of 251 workers (221 males and 30 females) were included in the study. Personal air sampling showed that 47% of the samples in the small factories had lead-in-air levels exceeding 150 ug/m3, compared unth. 29% in the larger establishments. The highest air lead levels were found in the cutting, pasting/mixing and battery assembly sections. 86.7% ofthe female workers and 62.2% of the male workers in the smaller factories had blood lead concentrations above the proposed limits of 70 ug/100 ml (males) and 40 ug/100 ml (females). In contrast, only 7.6% of the male workers in the larger factories had blood lead levels exceeding the proposed limits. Three workers also had positive signs or symptoms on clinical examination. Legislation of specific regulations to protect the health of lead-exposed workers in Malaysia is currently being drafted by the government.