title: Immunoglobulin levels in workers exposed to hexachlorobenzene.
abstract: The serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM and IgA) concentrations of 52 chlorinated-exposed workers were examined and compared with those of non-exposed, age- and sex-matched individuals. At the time of testing, the exposed population had mean hexachlorobenzene (HCB) blood levels of 3.84 micrograms/dl with a range of 0.1 to 16 micrograms/dl. Increased IgG and IgM levels were found in the HCB-exposed workers (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Hepatic function was evaluated by serum aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, as well as by bilirubin levels. IgM concentrations were positively correlated with three of the studied parameters, namely, length of exposure (r = 0.367) and the activities of both AST (r = 0.367) and ALT (r = 0.507).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology/Hemocenter-FCM, State University of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bincoletto
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Perlingeiro
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Quadros
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002617:Chemical Industry; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin