Research Council (MRC) Scale, muscle
strength was evaluated (21).
By the help of a disposable injector, 4 cc venous
bloods were drawn from each worker. The
obtained venous blood samples were transferred
into 2 vacuum blood tubes (Vacutest kima) containing
Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic Acid
(EDTA). One of those tubes containing venous
blood sample was sent to the Eskisehir Osmangazi
University Medical School Blood Bank in
the same day for CBC and preparation of a
peripheral smear. The remaining tube was used
for determining the BLL.
Complete blood count was performed with
“COULTER® LH 750 Hematology Analyzer”
device. As recommended by World Health Organisation,
Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration below
13 g/dL was evaluated as anemia (22). Erythrocytes
with basophilic granulation were investigated
on the peripheral smear. Presence of more
than 500 erythrocytes with basophilic granulation
in 1 million erythrocytes was accepted as a positive
result (23).
BLL was determined by “LeadCare® Blood
Lead Test System”. This test is considered to be
appropriate for field studies due to its cost-effective,
easy-to-apply, portable features. Pineau
et al. (24) reported this test as a reliable method.
While individuals with BLL ≥10 µg/dL were accepted
as people with high BLL, and results ≥40
µg/dL were categorized as cases of lead poisoning
(13, 14).
The preventive measures for workplaces and their
current applicability were evaluated with another
survey.
All the procedures performed on the study group
were also applied to the control group under the
same conditions.
The obtained data were evaluated by the help of
a Statistical Program of Social Scientific (SPSS)
version 13.0 statistical program package. Chisquare
test (x2
), Fisher’s exact test, Student t
test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z test, and logistic regression
analysis were applied. For certain values,
95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated.
Level that P< 0.05 was deemed as statistically
significant.