Lead (Pb) Toxicity Trigger Schizophrenia in Battery Workers of North Region of India

Abstract

Objectives: Total production of Pb acid batteries in India is about 8 million per year and nearly 10,000 Kg of Pb is consumed in the production of batteries. 11.35 Kg of Pb is released to the environment from production of 1000 batteries. The objectives of present study were to correlate high blood lead (Pb) levels in lead exposed battery workers with elevated risk of moderate and severe schizophrenia. Methods: The study was conducted on 135 subjects divided into study and control groups. The inclusion criteria for study group were age between 20 to 40 years, exposure to Lead (Pb) more than five years, BMI less than 25 and having no any systemic diseases. The lead exposed subjects were taken from battery workshops of Lucknow city. Recruited subject were explained about the study protocol Results and Conclusion: The mean Pb level in cases were found 35.04 ± 13.39 (μg/dl) and control were 5.53 ± 1.75 (μg/dl) which are significantly (p <0.001) different and exceptionally higher as compared to controls. The battery workers who were exposed ≥10 years have increases blood lead (Pb) level and decrease hemoglobin level in body and become mental disorder, who suggest for risk of moderate and severe schizophrenia