الفهرس 
AcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The role of lead in human health is a matter of growing concern to biochemical scientists, since there is an evidence of a relationship between the concentration in blood and subsequently the occurrence of va r~ous diseases. The environmental variations of lead was reflected in their concentrations on the blood of population of both urban and rural communities The drinking water contains a number of heavy metals, the lead constitutes the most important of them, that makes it the choice of our study, for the following Lead can cause many adverse effects on human health during the daily usual exposure and not necessarly due to industrial or toxic exposure. Lead is widely spread in nature e.g. : air, water, soil and dust. The aim of this study is to determine the serum level of lead for healthy adult persons aged 25-45 years, from urban and a nearby rural community of Alexandria, and its correlation to other environmental data, as well as the determination of the concentration level of lead in tap water of the six districts of Alexandria, and tap water samples, from the rural area, in addition to alkalinity, pH , hardness, dissolved solids and chlorides. The study also recorded the possible correlation between the concen tration of blood lead levels and their corresponding level in tap water and other environmental factors. The study was carried-out on sixty (60) adult healthy subjects (male and female) aged 25-45 year , selected at random from the different six districts of Alexandria government and another group of thirty (30) adult healthy , subjects were also selected at random from Abbis country. Both groups (rural and urban) were interviewed for their personal data and different environmen tal variables using a prescheduled observation sheet. Data concerning the health status of residents were assessed via a medical sheet which included complete medical history and clinical examination. Samples from the blood of subjects were examined for the levels of lead using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Regarding the enV1ron mental samples, thirty (30) samples were collected at random from the tap water of the six districts of Alexandria ( each district 5 samples) , and 15 samples collected also at random from Abbis tap water. All samples were analysed for physical and chemical parameters uS1ng standard methods ( Jarrel Ash Model 850 atomic absorption spectrophometre ). Statistical analysis was performed between the different variables and the blood lead levels of the subjects. Tabulation of data and analysis were carried-out by the computer with the help of the staff of Statistical Department of High Institute of Public Health (HIPH) . Presentation of data was made in most suitable forms. The results of the present work revealed that there was no signi ficant difference between the Alexandria drinking water and Abbis drinking water concerning the lead levels and degree of hardness. The water could not be blamed to be a factor in building up high human blood lead levels. The drinking water is not the major source of lead. Dietary and cooking habits are probably more important in this respect. All samples studied in both rural, as well as , urban area showed a minimal acceptable levels of lead. This may be due to the concentration 1n finished water ( water after purification) , prior to its distribution, are generally lower than in source water since lead is partially removed by conventional water purification processes, and also this may be a reflection of the modern improvement of pipe system used for water distribution were lead pipes are no more used. :> This was attributed to other environmental variations, the most important of them was exposure to heavy traffic, automobile cars and unleaded gasoline. Also, all residents living near heavy traffic in both urban and rural groups had got higher mean blood lead levels, rather than those living away from heavy traffic. The study revealed that the concentration of blood lead in both Alexandria and Abbis country was within the international environmental limit, and did not affect the health status of subjects (don’t exceed 40 microgram/dl) . Meanwhile, the blood lead level in El-Amria district showed the highest level 39 microgram/dl . The relative high lead level can be at tributed to the presence of many industries in the region and consequently inhabitants of this area are potentially exposed to the harmfull effects of bad environmental conditions, e.g. : industrial wastes and respirable dust. The study concluded that certain environmental parameters has definit, role in the well-being of ~eople affecting them and is affected by them. These environmental parameters are water, air, food and soil. The present study showed the presence of a relation between blood lead level and these environmental parameters. The study also revealed that the traffic and motor vehicle are the most important source of lead. Exposure to heavy traffic and extensive type of motor vehicles affects the entire air environmental of a commu nity . Lead constitutes a significant factor in air pollution. This fac tor can have the most important role participating in high blood lead level. The present study showed a significant difference in the blood lead level between subjects living in Abbis (rural) and subjects living in Alexandria (urban) . As the mean blood lead level in rural residents showed a lower ~evel than that of urban, this may be attributed to man made con tamin~tion of community air as exposure to heavy traffic and motor vehicles. The study recommended the extension of a similar work to other dif ferent communities ( e.g. : industrial) to cover all the aspects of natural environmental ( e.g. : rock, soil, water and air) to record the changed effects due to different activities, the study also recommended the possible effects arising from growing industrilization and environmental contamination of the amount and effect of lead incorporated in human body through ingestion and inhalation. Also, the study recommended further investigation for using more than one parametre as a tool to evaluate the risk of lead exposure (haemoglobin levels and ALAD activity) . Further studies are also needed to gain more know ledge on the individual level of lead in blood or particular tissues in rela tion to different environment.^leng