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Effects of lead on immune parameters in occupationally exposed workers
Author(s) -
Başaran Nurşen,
Ündeğer Ülkü
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0274(200009)38:3<349::aid-ajim16>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - immune system , medicine , immunology , chemotaxis , toxicity , antibody , complement system , lead exposure , receptor , cats
Background To assess the immune competence of workers occupationally exposed to lead, several subsets of peripheral lymphocytes, i.e., T, TCD4 + , TCD8 + , B, NK cells, serum immunoglobulin and complement protein concentrations, chemotaxis, and intracellular killing activity of neutrophils of 25 male storage battery workers have been analyzed and compared to 25 healthy males with no history of lead exposure. Results The results of this study which indicated that industrial exposure to lead resulting in group mean blood lead concentrations of 75 ± 18 μg/dl are associated with a significant depression of: T helper lymphocytes, Ig G, Ig M and C3, C4 complement levels, chemotaxis, and random migration of neutrophils. No correlation was found between the duration of exposure and the altered immune parameters. Conclusions The immune system can be a target for lead toxicity and elimination of lead hazard in working places is necessary. Am. J. Ind. Med. 38:349–354, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.