Influence of serum lead level on prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, quality of life and cardiopulmonary function among welders in Enugu metropolis, Southeast, Nigeria

Abstract

Exposure of welders to welding fumes is a serious occupational health problem all over the world. This often leads to musculoskeletal pain and influences quality of life and cardiopulmonary function, which can be acute or chronic, localized or widespread. The study aimed to assess the serum level of lead and relate it to musculoskeletal pains, quality of life and cardiopulmonary functions of welders in Enugu metropolis, Southeast, Nigeria. Snowball sampling technique was adopted to reach over 100 welders working and residing in Enugu metropolis and who met the inclusion criteria for their informed consent to participate in the study. The first 100 to give the consent were selected for the study. results showed that the mean serum level of lead in welders in Enugu metropolis was 0.522{micro}g/dl with a range of 0.06-1.26 {micro}g/dl. Low back pain was prevalent among welders. The welders had a very high quality of life for the domain of physical health with a score of 94, and high psychosocial and social relationship domains for quality of life with the scores of 69 and 75 respectively. The welders perceived their quality of life as regards environment as average, as they reported their physical environment as being a little or moderately safe, having little money to meet their needs, moderate; availability to information needed for their day to day life, satisfaction with access to health services and time for leisure activities, and a majority reported being satisfied and/or slightly satisfied with their transportation. About 64.2% of the welders had an elevated systolic blood pressure above 120mmHg and 52.6% had diastolic blood pressure elevated above 80mmHg, while only 3.2% of the welders had pulse rates above 100 beats per minute. The mean values for lung function reported for the study were FVC = 1.43, FEV1 = 1.13 and PEF = 1.61. The significant relationship between serum lead levels (FVC, FEV1 and PEF) could be attributed to inhalation. The significant relationship between serum lead levels and low back pain and knee pain could be attributed to leads effect on the musculoskeletal system.