THE Occupational Health Division under the Ministry of Health is planning to launch a campaign late this year aimed at minimising health risks from exposure to lead at workplaces.

The division’s director, Dr Phone Myint, said the campaign would include research at factories throughout the country that use large amounts of lead in their production processes.

The year-long research project, at battery and ceramics factories as well as a government-owned mine, would begin at the end of the year, Dr Phone Myint told Myanmar Times.

The research will be conducted at Namatu in Shan State, Shwebo in Sagaing Division, Twante in Yangon Division, Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy Division and industrial zones in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar, Thingangyun and South Dagon townships.

The campaign will also involve awareness programs at workplaces in selected areas and blood testing of workers and employers to determine lead levels in their blood.

“Awareness about the hazards of lead exposure should be widely promoted since even people in high risk areas are not aware of its effects,” Dr Phone Myint said.

A medical officer at the division, Dr Thida Han, said that stricter enforcement and monitoring of workplaces would help to reduce health risks from exposure to lead.

She said one reason for high concentrations of lead in the atmosphere at most private-sector factories was inadequate ventilation systems.

“Employers should provide their workers with masks, gloves and special clothing,” Dr Thida Han said. Employees should also be required to follow workplace safety procedures, she said.

Myanmar has more than 80 factories that make batteries and more than 160 ceramics production sites. Lead is also used in production processes at goldsmiths, welding businesses and car repair workshops.

Dr Thida Han said that although exposure to excessive amounts of lead was not immediately obvious, the health effects became apparent after it had accumulated in the body over time.

Frequent and high exposure to lead can cause brain damage, including an impaired memory, and affect hearing.

High blood lead levels in pregnant women can result in babies of below average birth weight who are also at risk of suffering from brain and nervous system damage as they grow older. Concern over the situation resulted in a law being introduced in 1937 that prohibited the employment of women in workplaces where they would be exposed to high levels of lead.

A blood lead level of more than 10 micrograms a decilitre is regarded as posing a health risk.

“If a worker has a high blood lead level, he should be removed from the source of exposure and undergo a procedure for removing excess lead from the body,” she said.

The symptoms of lead poisoning are anaemia, weakness, constipation, stomach pain and often paralysis of the wrists and ankles.

Dr Thida Han said children are especially at risk from lead poisoning.
Flaking lead-based paints and toys made from lead compounds pose a serious hazard to children, she said.