PREDICTING BLOOD LEAD LEVELS USING AIR LEAD LEVELS IN ACID BATTERY MANUFACTURING PLANTALA’ ALI AHMAD AL-SUBEIHI AND BATTAH, A.H.Abstract Uncontrolled activities of battery plants cause high emissions of lead (Pb). These emissions are considered a cause of significant threat not only to the workers of battery plants, but also to individuals living within the neighborhood. Twelve air samples were collected from a battery plant during different working days, and four air samples were collected from the vicinity of the battery plant. The air samples were analyzed for Pb levels using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (FAAS). Blood lead (BPb) levels were predicted from the obtained results of air samples following application of Richter et al. 1979 model. The arithmetic means for both air Pb levels and predicted BPb levels were 1369 ± 929 μg/m³ and 85.56 ± 11.22 μg/100 mL respectively. The regression factor between air Pb levels and predicted BPb levels was (R = 0.955). The arithmetic mean of both air Pb and BPb levels were above the internationally reported acceptable levels (50 μg/m³ and 40 μg/100 mL). BPb levels in individuals living in the vicinity of the acid battery plant were also predicted using Richter et al. (1979) model. The arithmetic means for both air Pb levels and predicted BPb levels were 61.2 ± 35.0 μg/m³ and 52.23 ± 4.76 μg/100 mL respectively. Air Pb level of samples collected from inside battery plant was considered as a good specimen for predicting BPb level. It could be concluded that workers |