title: Evaluation of selenium exposure in copper refinery workers.
abstract: Concentrations of selenium in plasma and urine and activity of glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes were determined in workers exposed to selenium and in a control group. Plasma selenium concentrations were significantly lower in exposed workers compared to the controls. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in selenium workers was significantly higher than in the control subjects. Urine selenium concentrations were not statistically different between the two groups. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma selenium concentrations and urine selenium concentrations in workers exposed to selenium. A weak significant positive correlation was found between plasma selenium concentrations and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in exposed workers. Our results suggest that the lower plasma selenium concentrations in selenium workers may be attributed to an increase of urinary selenium excretion.
authors.affiliation: Départment de médecine du travail et d'hygiène du milieu, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rajotte
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: P'an
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malick
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Robin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000652:urine; D014920:Wine
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium