study of neuropsychological disorders - among aluminum foundry workers

For 63 aluminum foundry workers and 58 matched construction workers, aluminum concentrations in plasma and urine were measured. The exposed workers were classified into low-exposure and high-exposure groups according to ambient aluminum dust concentrations. For referents, low exposure and high exposure groups, the mean plasma aluminum levels were 4.1, 29.5, 48.4 micro g/L respectively, and the corresponding values for urinary aluminum being 10.1, 46.3, 70.8 micro g/L, respectively. In the exposed group, there was a statistically significant linear correlation between aluminum concentrations in the plasma and urine [r = 0.95]. Central nervous system functions were assessed with a neuropsychological symptoms questionnaire, and a neuropsychological test battery. There was an exposure-related increase in memory and concentration problems, tremors, fatigue and dizziness as well as impairment of the results of manual and finger dexterity test and attention test. The correlation between aluminum exposure indices and the used neuropsychological test performance could indicate effects from exposure to aluminum

Effect of passive smoking on thyroid function in neonates

To evaluate the effect of passive smoking on thyroid function in infants. Cord serum Tri-iodothyronine [T3], Thyroxine [T4], Serum thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], Thyroglobulin [Tg], and cord plasma thiocyanate [SCN] were measured at birth in 43 infants born to smoking fathers, and in 40 infants whose both parents were non-smokers. No significant differences were observed in cord serum concentrations of T3, T4 and TSH among the two groups. Tg and SCN concentrations were significantly higher in the study group than in controls [p<0.0001]. T3, T4, TSH were not correlated with SCN values, while there was strong [+ve] correlation between Tg and SCN [r=0.97]. Birth weight was significantly higher in controls than in the study group and, by regression, it was affected mainly by gestational age, and was not affected by SCN. Passive smoking during pregnancy may be responsible for elevated serum levels of thyroglobulin due to a direct effect of thiocyanate on the thyroid gland

Effect of mercury on the immune response and mean intensity of Hymenolepis Nana infection in mice

The effect of mercury on selected immunological parameters was studied in mice with experimental H. nana infection. T-lymphocytes and serum protein changes in mice treated for varying duration with mercuric chloride [HgCl2] and subsequently infected with 1000 H. nana eggs were compared with their counterpart controls: an only treated and an only infected groups. Decreased values of T-lymphocytes beta and gamma globulins in the mercury-treated control group indicate suppression of immune response by mercury. The subsequent infection of HgCl2-intoxicated animals elevated the studied immunological parameters along with higher worm recoveries in comparison with infected non-intoxicated mice, but these immunological parameters remained significantly suppressed