Professional paper
Lead in the blood and erythrocyte protoporphyrin in glass workers
Tihomir Ratkajec
; Dispanzer za medicino dela, prometa in sporta, Celjska 10, 3250 Rogaška Slatina, Slovenija
Abstract
This paper investigates how the indicators ot lead exposure (blood lead - PbB, delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase - 5-ALAD. erythrocyte protoporphyrin - EP), relate to the exposure duration prior to the analyses, alcohol intake, gamma-glutamyltranspherase (GGT). and smoking habits ot 25 glass workers exposed to lead oxide over a period between 1988 and 1994.
The PbB was analyzed with the ET ASS method, (ALAD with Standardized European Method) while EP with the spectrofluorometric method. The alcohol Intake assessment was based on answers to a medical questionnaire. The results are presented as median values and analyzed by the method ot Spearman Correlation. The findings show correlation between EP and the exposure duration to the lead dust over a period of three months prior to the analyses (r--<-0.4Z; t=z,2; p<0.05). The median value of PbB was higher (2.4 pmol/L) in workers who consumed over 50 g of alcohol a day than in workers with lower alcohol consumption (1.9 pmol/L). The median value of PbB was higher in workers whose serum GGT surpassed the normal value ot 0.66 pkat/L and was lower in workers with GGT lower than 0.66 pkat/L. (2.4 pmol/L and 2.05 pmol/L. respectively). ALAD was lower in the subgroup of workers with GGT higher than 0.66 pkat/L. The smokers manifested a higher median PbB value. The PbB values correlated with the alcohol intake and smoking habit, while the EP values correlated with the duration ot exposure to lead dust.
Keywords
biological monitonng; erythrocyte protoporphyrin; glass workers; lead in blood
Hrčak ID:
144275
URI
Publication date:
3.7.1998.
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