title: Relationship between blood metals and inflammation in taxi drivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is a cause of concern in public health worldwide, reinforcing the need for studies related to the identification of potential agents that contribute to the inflammation process and atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate whether metals are associated with inflammatory and kidney damage and could contribute to the atherosclerosis process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood metals, inflammatory markers, homocysteine, antioxidants and renal markers were measured in 42 taxi drivers and 27 controls (non-occupationally exposed).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Taxi drivers had increased Hg, As, Pb and Cd levels, however Cu and Zn levels were decreased compared to controls (p<0.05). Hg, As and Pb levels were positively associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide and negatively associated with glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, Hg, As and Pb presented positive associations with homocysteine, an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Regarding markers of kidney function, N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase levels were increased in taxi drivers and correlated to inflammation markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hg levels were found above the recommended limits in taxi drivers and both Hg and As levels showed associations with inflammatory process, oxidative status and homocysteine. Thus, chemical substances as Hg and As can be considered as additional contributors to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brucker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charão
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bubols
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goethel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anelise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Department of Chemistry, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Prohmann
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Department of Chemistry, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moresco
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sangoi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hausen
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Department of Chemistry, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saint'Pierre
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Department of Chemistry, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gioda
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Lutheran University of Brazil, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, University Cardiology Foundation, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Iran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Saldiva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Institute of Cardiology, University Cardiology Foundation, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: solange.garcia@ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Solange Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000097:blood*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Homocysteine; Inflammation markers; Occupational exposure; Toxic metals