title: The effect of occupational lead exposure on blood levels of zinc, iron, copper, selenium and related proteins.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jordana 19, 41-808, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prokopowicz
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobrakowski
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pawlas
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011044:Poland; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis*; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C485359:HP protein, human; D006242:Haptoglobins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014168:Transferrin; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc