Exposure to lead in workers in highway toll booths

: 200 workers of the pay-toll stations of a Tuscan motorway were examined for PbB, FEP and urinary delta-ALA. The mean value of PbB was 37 +/- mcg/100 ml R.B.C., but in 39 subjects (19.4%) it was over 50 mcg/100 ml R.B.C. FEP showed a mean value of 23.3 +/- 8.9 mcg/100 ml and in 8 subjects (4.4%) it exceeded 40 mcg/100 ml. Urinary delta-ALA was always in the normal range. There was a light difference in the mean value of PbB in comparison with a group of 50 normal subjects; no difference was found in FEP levels. The distribution of PbB and FEP values was also studied in workers and in non exposed subjects.