Abstract
Lead was determined in whole blood samples obtained from 202 Saudi male volunteers. The influence of smoking on lead exposure was investigated. Blood lead was significantly higher in current smokers than in non-smokers and previous smokers (P< 0.05). The distribution of blood lead data in the screened subjects suggested the eixstence of two mixed populations and a cut-off of 12 μg dl −1 was found where the two populations separate. Of the exposed population, 80% with blood lead concentrations above 12 μg dl−1 were smokers.
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