Asia Pacific Environmental and Occupational Health Journal

Objective: This study analyzed the occupational related exposure to lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) in hair samples among goldsmiths in Malaysia.

Method: This cross-sectional study was done among goldsmiths in Kelantan. Background information was obtained and hair samples were collected. Pb and Cu in hair were analyzed via Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry method.

Result: A total of 40 workers from 10 gold workshops were recruited for this study. Most of the respondents were male and Malays aged between 30-39 years old. Two-third of the respondents had diploma level of education with income between RM1000-RM2999. The mean (standard deviation) and geometric mean for Pb was 72.0 (107.3) μg/g and 31.9 μg/g, respectively; whereas for Cu was 35.4 (22.9) μg/g and 28.9 μg/g, respectively. Heavy metal levels were directly associated with overtime work whereas safety and health practice was not linked with protective effect from exposure. Pb and Cu levels were significantly correlated (r=0.36, p=0.023).

Conclusion: Higher hair heavy metal levels were detected among goldsmiths in this study compared to other studies. Longer duration of overtime work was associated with higher heavy metal exposure. Significant positive correlation between Pb and Cu suggest that workers may likely be exposed to metal fumes via occupational sources. Engineering control solutions such as the use of local exhaust ventilation should be placed at work sections to reduce toxic metal exposures and more efforts needed to improve the safety and health practice at gold workshops for a better protection to all workers from such exposures.

Keywords: occupational, biological monitoring, lead, copper, jeweler, metal fumes