The Effect of Occupational Lead Exposure on Blood Levels of Zinc, Iron, Copper, Selenium and Related Proteins
Open Access
- 26 August 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Biological Trace Element Research
- Vol. 150 (1-3), 49-55
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9490-x
Abstract
The study objective was to evaluate the effect of occupational lead exposure on blood concentrations of zinc, iron, copper, selenium and proteins related to them, such as transferrin, caeruloplasmin and haptoglobin. The examined group consisted of 192 healthy male employees of zinc–lead works. By the degree of lead exposure, the exposed group was subdivided into three subgroups. The control group was composed of 73 healthy male administrative workers. The markers of lead exposure (blood levels of lead and zinc protoporphyrin) were significantly elevated in the exposed group compared with the control group. Additionally, concentrations of copper and caeruloplasmin were raised. The significant increase in haptoglobin level was observed only in the low exposure group. Selenium levels were significantly decreased, whereas iron, zinc and transferrin levels were unchanged in the exposed group compared with the control group. There were positive correlations between the lead toxicity parameters and the copper and caeruloplasmin levels. In conclusion, the effect of occupational exposure to lead on the metabolism of trace metals appears to be limited. However, significant associations between lead exposure and levels of copper and selenium were shown. Changed levels of positive acute-phase proteins, such as caeruloplasmin and haptoglobin, were also observed.Keywords
This publication has 50 references indexed in Scilit:
- Involvement of the epidermal growth factor receptor in Pb2+-induced activation of cPLA2/COX-2 genes and PGE2 production in vascular smooth muscle cellsToxicology, 2011
- Relation between anemia and blood levels of lead, copper, zinc and iron among childrenBMC Research Notes, 2010
- A population-based assessment of blood lead levels in relation to inflammationEnvironmental Research, 2010
- Study on clinical and biochemical toxicity biomarkers in a zinc-lead mine workersToxicology and Industrial Health, 2010
- Iron Deficiency in Young Lebanese Children: Association With Elevated Blood Lead LevelsJournal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 2008
- Iron Fortification Reduces Blood Lead Levels in Children in Bangalore, IndiaPEDIATRICS, 2006
- Blood lead levels in iron-deficient and noniron-deficient adultsClinical and Laboratory Haematology, 2005
- Protective Effects of Selenium to Placental Lead Neurotoxicity in Rat PupsToxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2005
- A comparison of the suppression of human transferrin synthesis by lead and lipopolysaccharideToxicology, 1997
- Indices of Lead-Exposure in Blood and Urine of Lead-Exposed Workers and Concentrations of Major and Trace Elements and Activities of SOD, GSH-Px and Catalase in Their Blood.The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1996