Heavy metals identification and exposure at workplace environment its extent of accumulation in blood of iron and steel recycling foundry workers of Lahore, Pakistan

The determination of heavy metals in blood is an important occupational environmental toxicology screening procedure. The aim of study was to determine the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni in blood samples of iron and steel foundry workplace exposed workers under routine clinical laboratory conditions. The method was employed for the quantitative determination of lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel in workplace environment particulate matter blood samples from iron and steel foundry workers and in unexposed controls. The results indicate that lead, chromium and nickel levels of the exposed workers are significantly higher those of the controls. Nickel Concentration [fig/L] in high P value=0.0306 and Chromium Concentration [microg/L] in P value=0.0295in worker population as compared to controls. Lead showed highest Absorption concentration in serum from particulate matter to Serum 47.3[microg/L]. Absorption concentration of nickel in serum 16.5[microg/L] was lower than lead observed in worker's population. Absorption concentration of cadmium and chromium in serum from particulate matter -152[microg/L] observed very low. The results also show the need for immediate improvements in workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices

Microwave adverse exposure changes of blood and brain levels of some elements in rats

In this work, four groups of adult male albino rats were used; the first as control, the second was exposed to microwave radiation 11/2 hr/day for seven consecutive days at a dose of 15 mW/cm2 and frequency 10.525 CHz. The third was exposed like the second but for 24 consecutive days, while the fourth was treated as the third and then left for two weeks as a rest period. Then animals were sacrificed and the blood and brain levels of some major and trace elements [calcium. iron, manganese, copper, nickel, zinc, selenium and molybdenum] were estimated by the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence technique [EDXF]; an easy, rapid, multi-elemental and need low weight of samples. Calcium, iron and manganese showed a significant increase in the exposed groups, while zinc, copper and molybdenum showed a significant decrease in both blood and brain when compared to control. Nickel of blood exposed groups showed a significant drop in the acute and chronic exposure groups and restored its normal figure in the chronic exposure then rest group, but it gave no readings in the brain sample for all groups. As for selenium it showed a significant drop in both acute and chronic exposure groups and a significant rise in the chronic then rest group in the blood; but in brain it gave no readings for the control and chronic exposure groups and a significant rise in the other two. These changes were explained by the microwave variant effects on ion fluxes via the effect on the ion channel properties of cell membrane, interaction between the cellular membrane molecules containing these ions, voltage changes across the cell membrane. etc

Renal and immunological dysfunction in Nickel-Electroplating Workers

Electroplating processes result in the emission of aerosoles of soluble nickel compounds. In our work we investigated health hazards associated with such exposure in a nickel-electroplating workshop. We examined the results of 50 male workers exposed to soluble nickel compounds and the results were compared to those obtained from 14 matched controls. Serum urea, creatinine and retinol binding protein were statistically significantly higher in exposed workers compared to the controls. Low levels of IgA and high levels of IgE were reported among our exposed workers. Reduction of spirometric measurements but not to the level of significance, was also demonstrated. The concentration of nickel in urine of workers averaged [2.9 Ug/L] and in serum averaged [3.4 Ug/L]. Statistically significantly positive correlation was found between serum levels of urea, creatinine, retinol binding protein and IgE and serum and urinary nickel of exposed workers

Serum nickle estimation in acute myocardial infarction.

Serum nickle was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometer in 20 healthy controls and in 25 cases of acute myocardial infarction at 12 hourly intervals upto 48 hours, after the onset of chest pain. The mean serum nickel was 0.27 micrograms/dl in healthy controls and 0.40,050,049 and 0.30 micrograms/dl in patients of acute myocardial infarction. The serum nickel values were significantly (P less than 0.001) raised upto 36 hours in acute myocardial infarction when compared with controls.

Nickel chloride injections and diabetes: II. calcium, zinc, phosphorus and iron determinations in alloxan diabetic and in rats treated by nickel chloride injections

Aloxana é amplamente utilizada em estudos de diabetes experimental, porque destroi as células pancreáticas produtoras de insulina, com relativa seletividade. Evidências recentes indicam que superóxido-dismutase (E.C.1.15.1.1.) e inhibidores de radicais hidroxil, protegem as células pancreáticas aos efeitos tóxicos de aloxana. No presente trabalho, os autores estudaram os efeitos do cloreto de níquel e da aloxana sobre as concentraçöes de calcio, zinci, fósforo e ferro. Foi observado que cloreto de níquel induziu elevaçäo nos conteúdos de calcio e zinco no pancreas de ratos tratados com aloxana. O possível efeito dos cloreto de níquel sobre a açäo de aloxana, deve estar relacionado com o efeito do níquel sobre a actividade da superóxidodismutase, mediada pelo zinco e plo cobere