JIST

Abstract

Background: Lead is in use since the pre-Christian era by humankind in various forms. Hence acute and chronic toxicity to humans due to lead salts also can be dated back to the pre-Christian era. With industrialization, the environmental pollution with metals like lead increased many folds. Contamination of marine sources is on raise due to the dumping of industrial wastes into rivers and oceans. This study is undertaken to estimate the effects on human beings due to environmental pollution by lead salts, more so on aquatic.

Aim: The objective of the study is to find out contamination of waters with lead causing toxicity to aquatic animals like fish. And consumption of such marine food effects in the Blood Lead Levels of human beings.

Methods: The objective achieved by selecting two groups of Medical students vegetarian (non-fish consuming) and fish consuming non-vegetarians and estimating their Blood Lead Levels by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS).

Results: The average Blood Lead Levels are more in males than females (P-value 0.03) [15.99 ± 4.89; 10.9 ± 5.23).The Blood Lead Levels are slightly more in vegetarians than nonvegetarians (13.44 ± 5.57; 12.32 ± 6.93) but statistically not significant (P-value 0.577). Lead Levels are comparatively more in non-vegetarian males then vegetarian males (16.14 ± 5.68; 15.99 ±4.88).

Conclusion: The difference in the Blood Lead Levels of fish consuming non-vegetarians and non-fish consuming vegetarians is not statistically significant. The mean Blood Lead Levels of boys is more than girls. The mean Blood Lead Levels is higher when compared to developed countries standard.