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ABSTRACT
The craft of bronze casting have given an endearing identity globally to the kingdom of Benin City and Nigeria at large as bronze work are displayed and purchased by both Nigerians and foreigners from different parts of the world. Despite all these laudable accomplishment, the makers of these bronze works, the bronze casters have not been paid attention as regard measures to ensure their safety in the course of carrying out their work. These measures will be of utmost importance as bronze casters may be exposed to risk of metal toxicity as long term involvement in the craft of bronze casting may increase the level of toxic metals in the blood of these bronze casters. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of toxic metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and chromium) in bronze casters in Benin City, South-South, Nigeria. In this study 80 participants were enrolled from Benin City, South-South Nigeria, consisting of 50 bronze casters sex and age matched with 30 unexposed persons(Controls). Blood levels of the toxic metals (Lead, chromium and cadmium) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry while blood levels of the other metals like Mercury and Arsenic were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Results obtained from the study show a significant higher level of toxic metals in the bronze casters compared with the control. The blood lead levels in the bronze casters (39.98±11.63𝞵g/l) were significantly higher than the control(8.09±1.46𝞵g/l), the blood mercury levels in the bronze casters (0.05±0.02𝞵g/l) were significantly higher than the control(0.01±0.00𝞵g/l), the blood cadmium level in the bronze casters (0.99±0.29𝞵g/l) were significantly higher than the controls(0.20±0.04), the blood chromium levels in the bronze casters (27.22𝞵g/l) were significantly higher than the controls(5.51±0.10𝞵g/l) and the blood arsenic level in bronze casters(0.51±1.15𝞵g/l) were significantly higher than the control(0.03±0.01). This study concludes that blood level of lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and arsenic in bronze casters were significantly elevated and this may suggest a risk of metal toxicity associated with occupational exposure to bronze borne toxicant.
