Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41444959›Full record

Observational studyEnvironmental health : a global access science source2025

Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to inorganic lead: a comparison between salivary, blood and airborne lead levels.

Loreta Tobia, Riccardo Mastrantonio, Mario Muselli, Lorenzo De Rossi, Elio Tolli, Vincenza Cofini, Elena Grignani, Angela Gambelunghe, Marco Dell'Omo, Stefano Necozione and 1 more

Abstract readObservational StudyComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Environmental health : a global access science source, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

11 authors.

Loreta TobiaDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Riccardo MastrantonioDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. riccardo.mastrantonio@univaq.it.
Mario MuselliDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Lorenzo De RossiDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Elio TolliDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Vincenza CofiniDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Elena GrignaniEnvironmental Research Center, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
Angela GambelungheDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Marco Dell'OmoDepartment of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06123, Italy.
Stefano NecozioneDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Leila FabianiDepartment of Life, health and environmental science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInorganic lead exposure is a relevant occupational health issue in many industry sectors. European regulations set specific limits for time-weighted chemical airborne exposure and for biological exposure. While blood lead monitoring is the current standard, saliva sampling offers a less invasive alternative for biomonitoring. This study evaluates the potential of salivary lead assessment as an alternative biological matrix for occupational exposure monitoring.

methodsAn observational study was conducted at a lead-acid battery production facility in Central Italy from July to December 2024. Ninety-two male workers participated: 46 occupationally exposed and 46 non-exposed workers. Salivary lead levels were measured using ICP-MS in all participants. Blood lead levels and personal airborne lead assessments were performed in the exposed group. Socio-demographic data were collected through self-administered questionnaires.

resultsMean salivary lead levels were significantly higher in exposed workers (23.3 ± 41.4 ng/swab) compared to non-exposed workers (0.3 ± 0.6 ng/swab, p < 0.001). A moderate positive correlation was found between environmental and salivary lead levels (ρ = 0.5587, p = 0.0003). No significant correlations were observed between blood and salivary lead levels or between environmental and blood lead levels. Occupational exposure and alcohol consumption were significant predictors of salivary lead levels.

conclusionsSaliva appears to be a promising alternative matrix for recent lead exposure monitoring, showing better correlation with environmental exposure than blood lead levels. Further research is needed to establish reference values and standardize salivary lead biomonitoring protocols.

Indexed as

Air Pollutants, OccupationalBiological MonitoringEnvironmental MonitoringLeadOccupational ExposureSalivaAdultHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedAir Pollutants, OccupationalLeadBiological matrixBiomonitoringBlood leadIndustrial hygieneLeadOccupational exposureSaliva

Identifiers

PMID41444959
PMCPMC12729134

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LicenceCC BY
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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.