Lead (Pb), as other environmental neurotoxicant substances, has the capability to interfere with many biochemical
events present in cells throughout the body. In the present study, the environmental and occupational
exposure to Pb has been assessed by analyzing the scalp hair samples of male adolescents aged 12–15 years,
who have worked for the last 12–36 months in Pb battery recycling workshops (BRWs). For comparative
purposes, gender and age-matched subjects living in the vicinity of recycling workshops as well as in areas without
industrial activity were used as controls. The scalp hair samples were oxidized by acid in a microwave oven
prior to determination of Pb by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated that
both workers and nonworking exposed subjects had higher levels of Pb than nonexposed controls. The contents
of Pb in scalp hair of adolescent workers in the present study were compared with those reported in
other studies.