affinity of hemoglobin and its components to lead, in occupationally exposed workers

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out on 225 workers occupationally exposed to lead in the printing industry. Blood-lead concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The level increased with the severity of the toxicity. Chromatographic separation followed by determination of lead concentration, showed that fetal hemoglobin [HbF] possesses a higher affinity to lead than HbA and HbA2. B-chain represented the main lead receptor of adult hemoglobin [HbA]. While, alpha-globin of fetal origin had a higher affinity for lead. Viscosity and conductivity of Hb were increased with blood-lead elevation