[Blood lipid parameters in smelters chronically exposed to heavy metals]. / Parametry lipidowe krwi u hutników dlugoletnio narazonych na metale ciezkie.

A group of 120 male workers, employed in copperworks (mean age = 41.5 years; mean exposure duration = 17,9 years) at workposts with the highest level of exposure to lead, were covered by the study. Blood levels of the following heavy metals were measured in all workers: Pb, Cd, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg as well as concentrations of FEP and GSH, SOD activity in erythrocytes, parameters of lipid metabolism: total cholesterol, HDL2- HDL3-cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxides (LPO), and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity. Mean blood lead level accounted for 251,86 micrograms/l, and mean level of FEP was slightly above normal. That may indicate moderate lead deposits in smelters. Concentrations of other metals remained within normal limits. No significant disturbances in lipid metabolism were observed. Along with expected positive correlation between lead blood level and FEP, a significant negative correlation between lead and cholesterol levels as well as between FEP and serum cholesterol was found. Moreover, a significant negative correlation between FEP and serum LPO, as well as a significant positive correlation between concentration and HDL2-cholesterol level and between FEP concentration and SOD activity in erythrocytes were noted. We believe that unexpected outcome of our investigations could result from the adaptation of healthy smelters to the environmental conditions. It is assumed that further exposure could weak antioxidant mechanisms and lead, in consequence, to the manifestation of symptoms induced by harmful effect of free radicals.

Lead and cadmium concentrations in blood of people living near a copper smelter in Legnica, Poland.

Examination of 60 inhabitants (including 28 children) of a village 900 m from a copper smelter with concurrent monitoring of air pollution was performed. Blood levels of lead and cadmium were measured three times in five years. At the same time dust amounts and air-dust concentrations of Cu, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni and As were measured. In the first phase of the investigation, for nearly 60% of days Pb and Cu air concentrations exceeded 2-5 times the norm. In the third stage, after significant reductions of gas-dust emissions (copper from 992 to 47 tons/year, lead from 1720 to 30 tons/year) no excessive metal air concentrations are noted. In the first examination the average blood lead concentration was 0.766 +/- 0.14 microgram/ml (in the group of children 0.52 +/- 0.07 microgram/ml). After five years, there was a statistically significant decrease in the blood concentrations of lead, to 0.44 +/- 0.14 microgram/ml (children 0.31 +/- 0.05 microgram/ml), and cadmium, to 0.028 +/- 0.007 microgram/ml (children 0.019 +/- 0.004 microgram/ml). A big lead and cadmium load in the villagers, despite the substantial reduction of gas and dust emission, points to the contamination of the surroundings of the cooper smelter.