ABSTRACT
Rhythm and conductivity disturbances in heart muscle, change in autonomic system function and raised arterial blood pressure have been described in workers exposed to lead. They may be accompanied by changes in echocardiography test and accordingly we undertook this investigation. The study population included employees of zinc and lead steelworks in the south of Poland that were divided into 2 groups: exposed to lead compounds (n=88) and the reference group - administration workers (n=55) with normal levels of lead concentration in blood (PbB) and zinc protoporphyrin in blood. Left ventricular enddiastolic dimension (LVDd), interventricular septal and posterior wall thickness, right ventricular diastolic, left atrium diameter, aortic diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) in echocardiograms were performed. Left ventricular mass LVM (g) and left ventricular mass index LVMI (g/m(2)) was calculated. In the group exposed to lead, EF decreased by 3 %, increased LVDd by 6 %, and raised LVM by 11 % and LVMI by 10 %. There was a positive relation between PbB and LVDd (R=0.18) and between PbB and LVM (R=0.14). Decreased EF, enlargement of the left ventricle and raised left ventricle mass in research undertaken, may be a result of raised arterial blood tension.
Subject(s)
Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/epidemiology , Lead Poisoning/epidemiology , Metallurgy , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Chronic Disease , Comorbidity , Electrocardiography, Ambulatory/methods , Female , Humans , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/chemically induced , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/diagnostic imaging , Lead Poisoning/diagnosis , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Diseases/diagnosis , Occupational Exposure/analysis , Poland/epidemiology , Ultrasonography , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/chemically induced , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/diagnostic imaging , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to estimate the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocytes in healthy male employees of zinc and lead steelworks who were occupationally exposed to lead over a long period of time (about 15 yr). Workers were divided into two subgroups: the first included employees with low exposure to lead (LL) (n=75) with blood lead level PbB=25-40 microg/dL and the second with high exposure to lead (HL) (n=62) with PbB over 40 microg/dL. Administration workers (n=35) with normal levels of PbB and zinc protoporphyrin in blood (ZPP) in blood were the control group. The activity of GPx significantly increased in LL when compared to the control group (p<0.001) and decreased when compared to the HL group (p=0.036). There were no significant changes in activity of GR in the study population. MDA erythrocyte concentration significantly increased in the HL group compared to the control (p=0.014) and to the LL group (p=0.024). For the people with low exposure to lead (PbB=25-40 microg/dL), the increase of activity of GPx by about 79% in erythrocytes prevented lipid peroxidation and it appears to be the adaptive mechanism against the toxic effect of lead. People with high exposure to lead (with PbB over 40 microg/dL) have shown an increase in MDA concentration in erythrocytes by about 91%, which seems to have resulted from reduced activity of GPx and the lack of increase in activity of GR in blood red cells.
Subject(s)
Erythrocytes/metabolism , Glutathione Peroxidase/blood , Glutathione Reductase/blood , Lead/toxicity , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Adult , Aminolevulinic Acid/urine , Erythrocytes/enzymology , Humans , Male , Malondialdehyde/blood , Metallurgy , Protoporphyrins/bloodABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to specify influence of lead and cadmium on semen parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Concentrations of both elements were determined in semen samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometry of 57 men with teratozoospermic, astenozoospermic and oligozoospermic (studied group) and 39 normozoospermic group (control group). Semen morphology was conducted in accordance with WHO regulations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any difference in concentration of these elements in both groups. We found a positive correlation between lead and cadmium in seminal plasma.
Subject(s)
Cadmium/analysis , Infertility, Male/chemically induced , Lead/analysis , Semen/chemistry , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Humans , Infertility, Male/etiology , Male , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Oligospermia/chemically induced , Spectrophotometry, Atomic , Sperm Count , Sperm MotilityABSTRACT
Blood lead level, urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid level, blood pressure, age, time of exposure, BMI were measured in zinc and lead foundry workers (n = 249) occupationally exposed to lead. Arterial hypertension was defined as the blood pressure over 140/90 and/or early diagnosed hypertension. Logistic regression analysis and correlation show that there is a relationship between ALA concentration and arterial hypertension (R = 0.12, p < 0.05). Workers were divided into a study group (ALA > or = 4 mg/l) and a control group (ALA < 4 mg/l). Both groups did not differ in age (mean 44.0 years in study group vs 45.3 in control group), time of exposure to lead (mean 21.1 years vs 21.7 years) and BMI (26.5 kg/m2 vs 26.7 kg/m2). Blood lead level was statistically significantly higher in the study group (23.5 micrograms/dl vs 16.8 micrograms/dl, p < 0.001) as well as urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid level (5.35 mg/l vs 2.79 mg/l < 0.001). In the study group there was a two fold increase in higher blood pressure in comparison with control group (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.09-3.32). Exposure to lead even in small doses may increase arterial blood pressure and it seems to be associated with prooxidant effects of delta-aminolevulinic acid.
