Serum immunoglobulin and complement C3 levels in workers exposed to lead.

Serum immunoglobulin and complement C3 levels were measured in workers exposed to lead at a secondary lead refinery and a solder factory. In the first survey, significant correlations were found between blood lead and IgA with a correlation coefficient of 0.296, and between blood lead and IgE with a correlation coefficient of 0.314. No other significant correlations were found among the indicators of lead exposure and humoral immunity. In the second survey, no significant correlations were found between blood lead and IgG and IgA. A significantly higher number of subjects with IgE of more than 400 IU/ml was found in the group with blood lead of more than 60 micrograms/100 g.

Erythrocyte deformability in workers exposed to lead.

Erythrocyte deformability and other hematological indicators were determined in 17 male workers exposed to lead at a secondary lead refinery and 13 controls. Blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin, delta-aminolevulinic acid and erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin were determined to evaluate the degree of lead exposure in the lead workers above. For the measurement of erythrocyte deformability, the microfilter method was used. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The mean values of blood lead, urine lead, urine coproporphyrin, urine delta-aminolevulinic acid and erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin levels in lead workers were 53.5 micrograms/100g, 141.4 micrograms/l, 115.9 micrograms/l, 12.0 mg/l and 68.9 micrograms/dl respectively, suggesting a moderate influence of lead exposure. 2. The mean values of erythrocyte count, hematocrit and hemoglobin were significantly lower in lead workers than those in controls. No significant differences were found in the mean values of mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and corpuscular natrium and potassium between lead workers and controls. 3. Erythrocyte deformability was significantly reduced in lead workers compared with controls.

A consideration of salt intake from foods based on the simultaneous measurement of sodium and chlorine by neutron activation analysis.

Ordinary hospital meals for adults were simultaneously measured for Na and Cl by neutron activation analysis (NAA). Results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Daily Na intake was estimated to be 4 to 8 g, corresponding to 11 to 18 g of salt. Daily Cl intake was estimated to be 5 to 9 g, corresponding to 7 to 12 g of salt. Their ratio was 1.6. 2. The higher values of salt intake obtained by conversion from Na intake are attributable to food additives. 3. In rating Na content, which has been reported to affect blood pressure, on the basis of salt intake, attention must be given to the fact that salt content converted from Cl content is rated to be lower than that converted from Na content.

Neutron activation analysis of manganese contents in ordinary hospital meals.

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) was applied to measurement of manganese (Mn) content in food as an example of ordinary hospital meals. The results showed that: 1. NAA permits measurement of Mn with a simple pretreatment procedure in comparison with AAS (atomic absorption analysis). 2. Daily Mn intake was estimated to be about 3 mg from food, and about 4 mg from green tea. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) has been used for measuring various elements under the conditions appropriate for the irradiated or radioactivated subject of analysis. We presently applied NAA to measurement of manganese (Mn) contents in food as an example of ordinary hospital meals with an estimation of daily Mn intake.

Effects of styrene on wheel-running and ambulatory activities in mice.

Effects of styrene on wheel-running and ambulatory activities were investigated in mice. Sixty male mice (ICR strain) were divided into 10 groups of six mice each, and they were exposed to styrene of about 930, 425, 60, 25 or 0 ppm (control group) for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week over 2 weeks. The wheel-running and ambulatory activity tests were conducted during 2 weeks of the styrene exposure, and 1 week before and after the exposure. The wheel-running activity decreased at the high concentrations (930 and 425 ppm), and the decreased activity did not recover to the control level after cessation of the exposure. In the ambulatory activity test, styrene exposure resulted in the decrease in the activity, though the change was not concentration-dependent. The present results suggest that the behavioral effect of styrene is clearly detectable by means of wheel-running and ambulatory activities in mice.