Biochemical effects of lead exposure and toxicity on battery manufacturing workers of Western Maharashtra (India): with respect to liver and kidney function tests

Background: The battery recycling and manufacturing involves the use of metallic lead for making grids, bearing and solder. The process results in release of lead particles and lead oxide causing environmental pollution and severe lead poisoning. Aims and Objectives: To know the present scenario of the blood lead level and its biochemical effects on occupational lead-exposed population, mainly battery manufacturing workers in Western Maharashtra (India) with respect to liver and kidney functions tests. Results: The biochemical parameters such as Blood Lead (PbB) level (p<0.001, 542%), Alanine Transaminase (ALT) (p<0.05, 20.47 %), serum total bilirubin (p<0.01, 46.42%), and direct bilirubin (p<0.001, 90.9%), serum alkaline phosphatase (p<0.001, 33.38%), blood urea level (p<0.001, 25.85%) and serum creatinine (p<0.001, 22%) levels were significantly increased in battery manufacturing workers as compared to control subjects. Slightly decreased level of serum total proteins (P<0.01, 4.32 %), albumin (P<0.01, 4.81 %) and blood sugar (p<0.001, 13.49%) and no statistically significant alteration were observed in Aspartate Transaminase (AST), serum globulins, albumin/globulin ratio, indirect bilirubin, uric acid and cholesterol in the study group as compared to control group. Conclusions: This study revealed increased blood lead level in battery manufacturing workers of Western Maharashtra (India), indicating more absorption of lead, despite modern technical supports, considerable lead induced health hazards still exist. Alteration of Liver and kidney function tests though they are statistically significant, but are within the normal range, indicates that there was no evidence of severe disturbance of liver and kidney functions in battery manufacturing workers.