Continuous exposure to lead in the workplace is now seen as a broader health threat than conventional target organ damage alone. A researcher from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia (FKUI), Dr. dr. Ade Mutiara, revealed that this heavy metal contamination has the potential to trigger serious metabolic disorders, including an increased risk of diabetes mellitus in vulnerable worker groups.
These findings are the result of a doctoral dissertation that thoroughly examined the correlation between blood lead levels and metabolic health. The study focused on industrial workers at high risk of pollutant exposure, such as metal smelting, welding, mining, and used battery recycling.
The results showed that workers with blood lead levels exceeding the threshold of 30 µg/dL had a higher susceptibility to elevated fasting blood glucose levels. Medically, this is caused by oxidative stress triggered by chronic lead exposure. The accumulation of free radicals in the body can damage cellular function, ultimately disrupting insulin signaling pathways and leading to insulin resistance.
In addition to environmental factors, the study also identified that genetic variations in vitamin D receptors play a crucial role in determining how vulnerable a person is to the adverse effects of lead. This genetic factor serves as one of the determinants of an individual's biological resilience when facing toxic exposure in the workplace.
As a mitigation measure, experts emphasize the importance of nutritional intervention for workers. Adequate fulfillment of micronutrients such as zinc, calcium, and vitamin D, along with sufficient protein intake, is believed to help the body reduce biological damage caused by lead toxicity. This nutrition-based preventive strategy is expected to serve as a protective shield for workers to curb the prevalence of metabolic diseases in the future.
