Effects of exposure to lead on selected biochemical and haematological variables.
Blood and urine samples were taken from 34 persons occupationally exposed to lead and from 56 non-exposed control persons and blood lead and haemoglobin concentrations, red blood cell count, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-peroxidase) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid were determined. Blood lead concentrations of the lead-exposed subjects were within the range of generally accepted as safe for occupationally-exposed adults in many countries (i.e. below 50 micrograms Pb/dl blood). Yet, significant dose-dependent elevations were found in erythrocyte GSH-peroxidase and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid. The urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid concentration of lead-exposed smokers was significantly elevated over that of lead-exposed non-smokers. Smoking did not effect the urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid concentration of control persons. In addition, a statistically significantly lower red blood cell count was observed in the lead-exposed group. Our results indicate that the above described safety standard for blood lead concentrations in occupationally exposed adults, although generally accepted, needs revision.
Solliway
B M
BM
Department of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Schaffer
A
A
Pratt
H
H
Yannai
S
S
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000652:urine; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007854:Lead; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase