Abstract
An assessment of influence of the occupational exposure to heavy metals, especially lead, on serum lipids (including lipid peroxides), total antioxidant status, erythrocyte redox status, and serum alpha-tocopherol level was performed in a group of 141 healthy male copper smelter workers. The following parameters were measured: blood lead and cadmium levels, serum manganese, copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels, free erythrocyte protoporphyrins (FEP), total cholesterol, HDL2-, HDL3-cholesterol, triglycerides and lipid peroxides in serum, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SODE), catalase (CatE) and glutathion peroxidase (PxGSHE) activities, erythrocyte reduced glutathione level (GSHE), serum alpha-tocopherol level, and serum total antioxidant status (TAS). Mean PbB was within the norm range (328.2 ± 141.7 μg/L), but mean MnS concentration slightly exceeded 10 μg/L (11.04 ± 3.79 μg/L). Mean cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were near the highest borderline values. We found a significantly negative correlation between lead levels and HDL3-cholesterol (r = 0.253, P < 0.05). Erythocyte catalase activity and TAS were lowered. TAS showed significant negative correlation with PbB. A group of workers with PbB≥ 400 μg/L had significantly lower CatE, lower TAS, and lower HDL3-cholesterol, compared to the workers with Pb < 400 μg/L. We have also found positive correlation between alpha-tocopherol and total cholesterol (r = 0.267, P < 0.05) and between alpha-tocopherol and LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.207, P < 0.05).
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Received: 28 July 1997 / Revised: 6 November 1997 / Accepted: 4 November 1997
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Antonowicz, J., Andrzejak, R. & Lepetow, T. Influence of heavy metals, especially lead, on lipid metabolism, serum alpha-tocopherol level, total antioxidant status, and erythrocyte redox status of copper smelter workers. Fresenius J Anal Chem 361, 365–367 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160050906
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160050906