LEVEL OF LEAD IN THE BLOOD AMONG FUEL STATION EMPLOYEES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO IMPAIRED LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTIONS IN DAMASCUS; SYRIA: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD

Objectives:  Chronic exposure to lead is known to cause adverse health effects. Workers at fuel stations are exposed to high concentrations of lead during filling cars and through Car’s emissions and being in contact with contaminated hands, food, water and clothing. This study was designed to find blood lead level and their adverse effects on kidney and liver function among fuel station workers. Methods:  Forty fuel station workers (exposed group) and thirty apparently healthy subjects (non-exposed group) in Damascus were randomly selected for the study. Blood lead levels were determined using Atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion. Serum concentration of creatinine, uric acid and urea values were recorded to assess kidney function, whereas AST and ALT serum concentrations were used to evaluate liver function. Results:  The results showed a non-significant elevation of blood lead level in the exposed group (11.04 ± 10.36 µg/dl) compared  to the non- exposed group (8.1±2.97 µg/dl). Serum concentration of creatinine and uric acid were significantly elevated in the exposed group, but there was no change in AST and ALT serum levels. Conclusion:  It is concluded that blood lead levels of fuel station workers don’t exceed the threshold that may cause kidney or liver dysfunctions.      Peer Review History: Received 25 March 2020; Revised 12 April; Accepted 3 May, Available online 15 May 2020 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:  Comments of reviewer(s):   Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Ali Abdullah Al-yahawi, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, alyahawipharm@yahoo.com Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Similar Articles: LEAD ACETATE: A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICANT THAT IS AMELIORATED BY THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF FICUS VOGELII (FV)