Effect of environmental lead pollution on blood lead levels in traffic police constables in Islamabad, Pakistan

To determine the blood lead levels and trace elements [copper and manganese] in traffic police constables in Islamabad in order to assess the effects of environmental pollution on the levels of metals in] body fluids. 1 Methods: Blood samples were collected from 47 male traffic police constables, 21 to 45 years of age, posted in different areas of Islamabad and controlling traffic from 3 months to 18 years, 8 hours/day, 6 days/week. Adolescent males [13-19 years], residing in comparatively clean and very low traffic areas were included as / controls. Blood lead, copper, and manganese concentrations were estimated by atomic absorption pectrophotometry. The mean blood lead level among constables [27.27 microg/dl] was significantly [p<0.0001] high as compared to controls [3.22 microg/dl]. Twenty one percent constables had elevated blood lead levels [over 25 microg/dl] and 13% had levels above the safety limit [40 microg/dl]. No correlation was found between blood lead levels and length of service. No significant difference was found in the mean values for copper between traffic constables [93.49 microg/dl] and controls [71.15 microg/dl]. The mean blood manganese levels in traffic constables [21.94 microg/dl] were significantly [p<0.0001] higher than in controls [1.70 microg/dl]. The mean blood lead levels were significantly high in traffic constables of Karachi [47.7 microg/dl] as compared to Islamabad [27.2 microg/dl], which shows direct relation of rise in blood lead levels with vehicle exhaust. Environmental lead pollution is associated with an increased blood lead concentration in those who are regularly exposed to vehicle exhaust in high traffic areas. The degree of lead pollution arising from vehicle exhaust differs in Karachi and Islamabad. Exposure to air containing dust particles rich in manganese may affect blood manganese levels

Effect of environmental lead pollution on blood lead levels in traffic police constables in Islamabad, Pakistan

To determine the blood lead levels and trace elements [copper and manganese] in traffic police constables in Islamabad in order to assess the effects of environmental pollution on the levels of metals in body fluids. Blood samples were collected from 47 male traffic police constables, 21 to 45 years of age, posted in different areas of Islamabad and controlling traffic from 3 months to 18 years, 8 hours/day, 6 days/week. Adolescent males [13-19 years], residing in comparatively clean and very low traffic areas were included as controls. Blood lead, copper, and manganese concentrations were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean blood lead level among constables [27.27 micro g/dl] was significantly [p<0.0001] high as compared to controls [3.22 micro g/dl]. Twenty one percent constables had elevated blood lead levels [over 25 micro g/dl] and 13% had levels above the safety limit [40 micro g/dl]. No correlation was found between blood lead levels and length of service. No significant difference was found in the mean values for copper between traffic constables [93.49 micro g/dl] and controls [71.15 micro g/dl]. The mean blood manganese levels in traffic constables [21.94 micro g/dl] were significantly [p<0.0001] higher than in controls [1.70 micro g/dl]. The mean blood lead levels were significantly high in traffic constables of Karachi [47.7 micro g/dl] as compared to Islamabad [27.2 micro g/dl], which shows direct relation of rise in blood lead levels with vehicle exhaust. Environmental lead pollution is associated with an increased blood lead concentration in those who are regularly exposed to vehicle exhaust in high traffic areas. The degree of lead pollution arising from vehicle exhaust differs in Karachi and Islamabad. Exposure to air containing dust particles rich in manganese may affect blood manganese levels

Serum Ige levels in patients with allergic problems and healthy subjects

Total serum IgE levels were estimated in 219 patients with various allergic disorders [119 with bronchial asthma, 68 with allergic rhinitis and 32 with urticaria] and 240 healthy age matched subjects. Serum IgE levels were significantly [P < 0.001] higher in healthy males [mean 181 IU/ml] than females [mean 99 IU/ml]. Higher levels were found in the age group 15 to 24 years and lowest in over 55 years. Males had higher IgE levels than females at any given age. Mean IgE levels were significantly [p < 0.001] higher in all three groups of patients than in healthy subjects. Among all age groups, the difference in mean IgE levels between allergic subjects and controls was significant. Positive skin test reactivity [to pollen and dust allergens] was found in 60% patients with asthma, 51% with allergic rhinitis, 46% with urticaria and in 4.5% healthy subjects. Patients with positive skin test had higher mean IgE levels as compared to those with negative skin test, but the difference was insignificant

Iron deficiency in adolescents

Two hundred and seventy school children between 13 to 20 years were investigated for iron deficiency. Overall iron deficiency [assessed by serum ferritin assay] was 39% in adolescents; 30% boys and 54% girls were iron depleted, anemia was found in 17% boys [Hb 13g/dl] and in 18% girls [Hb 12g/dl]. Iron deficiency was more frequent than anemia in adolescent girls than boys. Iron deficient children had significantly lower mean Hb levels [p 0.001] compared to children with adequate iron stores. A significant correlation was found between serum ferritin concentration and Hb levels in iron deficient children [r = 0.49, p 0.001]. A high prevalence of iron deficiency in adolescents reported here reflects the limited availability of dietary iron in children belonging to lower socio-economic group and the importance of screening for iron deficiency and the treatment of these children with iron preparation. Iron status in this age group warrants further evaluation and research

Immunoglobulins and serum proteins in toxoplasmosis

Immunoglobulin levels in 47 children [age 13-20 years] with toxoplasmosis were compared with 46 age and sex matched controls. No significant difference was observed in mean serum immunoglobulin [IgG, IgA, IgM] levels between patients and controls but mean IgM levels were significantly [P] higher in children with acute toxoplasma infection. Total proteins were higher in patients while mean albumin and globulin levels were similar between the two groups. Estimation of serum immunoglobulins in young children with toxoplasmosis has no significance and should not be considered as an immunodiagnostic tool

Diagnosis of pleural effusions

Sixty patients of pleural effusion with different aetiology are described. Various microbiological and biochemical parameters were done simultaneously in blood and pleural fluid to differentiate tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis effusions. Some biochemical tests were thought to be helpful in differential diagnosis but no single parameter was found diagnostic. Routine investigations of pleural fluid, sputum and pleural biopsy still remain the best method of diagnosis

Protein electrophoresis in tuberculosis

Serum electrophoresis was done in 31 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 62 age and sex matched controls. Protein values amongst controls were higher than those described by others. In tuberculosis there was significant decrease in total proteins, and albumin with corresponding increase in globulin, mainly due to an increase in gamma globulin fraction. There was no significant increase in alpha-2 levels. Decrease in albumin/alpha-2 ratio was significant in sputum positive cases, but it was due to reduction in albumin rather than increase in alpha-2 globulin. Decrease in albumin/alpha-2 ratio in this study was not diagnostic of tubercular activity

Ferritin levels in professional blood donors

Iron stores were estimated in 333 professional blood donors by serum ferritin assay. Iron deficiency or depleted iron stores assessed by low serum ferritin levels [< 12ng/m] were found in 15% donors. In 51% donors the serum ferritin was within the normal range, while 34% donors had high serum ferritin levels [above 200 and upto 3580 ng/ml]. Anaemia [Hb < 13g/dl] was found in 284 [85%] donors, 51 [18%] of these had iron deficiency or low ferritin levels, 99 [35%] had high and 134 [47%] had normal serum ferritin levels. Iron deficiency in blood donors could be associated with repeated blood donations. High serum ferritin levels could be due to reasons like taking of medicinal iron much beyond the recommended dosage bysetf initiation. Therefore, estimation of serum ferritin has no value in professional blood donors

Serum thyroid hormone levels in liver cirrhosis

Levels of thyroid hormones, serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine [T3], free thyroxine [FT4], free triiodothyronine [FT3] and thyrotropin [TSH] were measured in 55 patients with liver cirrhosis using radioimmunoassay techniques. Results were compared with 78 controls. The mean serum concentration of T3, FT3 and FT4 were significantly decreased in cirrhotics, while no significant change was noted in serum Ta and TSH levels. T3/T4 ratio was also lower than the normal. This indicates an impaired liver conversion of T4 to T3 in peripheral tissues. Serum T3 and FT3 showed an inverse correlation with serum bilirubin and a positive correlation with serum albumin. T3, FT3 and T3/T4 ratios were significantly low in patients who had ascites as compared to those who had no ascites. This study confirms the presence of abnormalities in serum thyroid hormone levels in cirrhosis of liver. Alteration in serum T3 and FT3 levels correlate well with the disease severity and may be useful in assessing the course and prognosis in cirrhotic patients

Serum ferritin levels in apparently healthy subjects

Serum ferritin levels were estimated in 78 normal subjects [46 males and 37 females] using radioimmunoassay techniques. The mean serum ferritin level in normal men was 83 ng/ml [range 7.4 - 190.0 ng/ml], compared with 43 ng/ml [range 5.1 - 104 ng/ml] in normal women. The difference in the mean ferritin level between the two sexes was significant. A concentration below 10 ng/ml was associated with a low transferrin saturation [< 15%] in both males and females

Radioimmunoassay of thyroid related hormones and TSH in primary hyperthyroidism

One hundred and forty seven clinically proven hyperthyroid subjects were studied using radioimmunoassay techniques for the estimation of serum thyroid hormones and pituitary TSH concentrations. In females toxic goitre was more frequently seen in the age group 21 to 30 years and in males 31 to 40 years. The mean levels for serum T4, T3, FT4 and FT1 were significantly elevated while the mean level for serum TSH was normal. A significant positive correlation was found between T4 and T3 and between FT4 and FT1, while correlation between T4/FT4, T3/TSH and T4/TSH were found to be insignificant. Serum T3: T4 ratio was found to be high in hyperthyroid patients. There was no significant difference in the mean of various hormones between the two sexes. Serum T3 was found to be the most sensitive single test that can be performed for the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism