The delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase polymorphism: higher blood lead levels in lead workers and environmentally exposed children with the 1-2 and 2-2 isozymes

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80001-5· OSTI ID:5752145

Wetmur, J G; Lehnert, G; Desnick, R J ^[1]

---

1. Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (United States)

The erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) isozyme phenotypes and the blood lead levels were determined in a population of 202 lead factory workers in Germany and an environmentally exposed population of 1278 children in New York who had elevated free protoporphyrin levels. In both population, individuals with the ALAD 1-2 or 2-2 isozyme phenotype had levels of blood lead statistically higher than those individuals with the ALAD 1-1 isozyme phenotype (lead workers: P greater than 0.004; children: P greater than 0.0001). Homozygotes and heterozygotes for the ALAD2 allele who expressed the 2-2 or 1-2 isozyme phenotype had median blood lead levels that were about 9 to 11 micrograms/dl greater than similarly exposed individuals who were homozygous for the ALAD1 allele. These findings support the hypothesis that the ALAD2 polypeptide binds lead more effectively, and therefore that individuals with the ALAD2 allele may be more susceptible to lead poisoning.

• OSTI ID: 5752145
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Vol. 56:2; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARBON-OXYGEN LYASES
PHENOTYPE
LEAD
TOXICITY
PROTOPORPHYRINS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CHILDREN
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
GERMANY
ISOENZYMES
MAN
METABOLISM
METALLURGY
NEW YORK CITY
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
AGE GROUPS
ANIMALS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
FEDERAL REGION II
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LYASES
MAMMALS
METALS
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
PORPHYRINS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
SYNTHESIS
URBAN AREAS
USA
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology