This study was initiated to explore the possibility of using simple psychometric tests for the early detection of affection of brain intellectual functions and prevalence of neurotic symptoms among asymptomatic lead exposed workers in developing countries. For this purpose 110 male lead exposed printers and 34 controls were examined using Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire [MHQ] and the following verbal and performance psychometric tests: Digit Span, Similarities, Digit symbol, Block design, Trail making parts A and B. In addition, levels of blood lead and urinary coproporphyrin (UCP) were determined. Although the mean levels of blood lead and UCP of examined printers were 46.5 ? 15 mu g/dl and 1.0 ? 1.4 mu creatinie respectively i.e. within the currently acceptable safe values, subjects showed statistically significant poorer psychometric performance and more frequent neurotic symptoms than the controls. Blood lead level, UCP and duration of exposure correlated significantly with results of some of the used psychometric tests. The results point to the applicability of psychometric tests in monitoring the neurotoxic effect of lead even by using simple tests in developing countries and confirm the suggestion of WHO to decrease the current safe value of lead exposure.