Changes in some metalloenzymes and trace metals among workers occupationally exposed to lead in battery manufacture

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted aiming to evaluate the impact of lead [Pb] exposure on the activities of some metaloenzymes as TIBC, SOD, ALP and MAO and their related trace metals among workers. Ninety workers occupationally exposed to Pb in a battery manufacturing plant in Alexandria city were included in this study, 50 of them were the exposed group and 40 control subjects. The present study showed a statistically significant higher level of biological indices of exposure [p<0.01] of lead in blood among the exposed group than the control subjects. Exposure to Pb led to decreased levels of Zn and Fe which was accompanied by increase in the level of TIBC and decrease in activity of ALP. However, no significant variation could be detected in the level of Cu and its metalloenzyme as SOD and MAO between exposed and control subjects: