Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32231467›Full record

ArticleTheScientificWorldJournal2020

Lead and Mercury Exposure and Related Health Problems in Metal Artisan Workplaces and High-Risk Household Contacts in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Adeep Monger, Karma Wangdi

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in TheScientificWorldJournal, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Underexplored terrain: effects of high priority environmental toxicants on skeletal muscle.Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. E-Waste in Africa: A Serious Threat to the Health of Children.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Adeep MongerRoyal Centre for Disease Control, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3912-6351
Karma WangdiOccupational Health and Chemical Safety Programme, Public Health Engineering Division, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
Royal Centre for Disease Control · BT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMetal artisans have been using lead and mercury in their settings for centuries. Exposure to these toxic heavy metals causes adverse health effects. We assessed the occupational exposure of metal artisans and their high-risk household contacts at Thimphu, Bhutan.

methodsA cross-sectional study in which 134 metal artisan center employees and 48 high-risk household contacts were tested for blood lead and mercury levels. Sociodemographic data, occupational exposure risk factors, and clinical syndrome related to lead and mercury exposure were further obtained and analyzed using EpiInfo 7.0.

resultsThe mean age of the metal artisan center employees was 36.02 ± 10.3. The prevalence of elevated blood lead and mercury level was 38.4% and 51.9%, respectively. Significantly higher prevalence of mercury level was observed among the artisans compared to nonartisans (66.97 vs, 16.0). Among three centers, the goldsmith section of the Department of National Properties had the highest (94.1%). Profession as an artisan, mold designing, performing gold amalgamation, working for >8 hours a day, working for >5 years, and working at home were significant risk factors associated with elevated blood mercury level. Significant association was observed between elevated mercury level and complaints of burning or watery eyes (

conclusionThe prevalence of elevated blood mercury level is concerning among the artisans. Advocacy, proper usage of personal protective equipment, awareness on chemical safety, and hazard associated with lead and mercury usage are needed to minimize the exposure.

Indexed as

FamilyWorkplaceAdolescentAdultAgedBhutanCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLeadMaleMercuryMetals, HeavyMiddle AgedOccupational ExposurePopulation SurveillanceLeadMercuryMetals, Heavy

Identifiers

PMID32231467
PMCPMC7085879
OpenAlexW3010961693

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.