Biochemical diagnosis of occupational exposure to lead toxicity

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01700146· OSTI ID:6943004

Somashekaraiah, B V; Venkaiah, B; Prasad, A R.K. ^[1]

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1. Sri Venkateswara Univ., Andhra Pradesh (India)

Lead has been shown to interfere with the biosynthesis of heme in a number of in vitro systems and in experimental animals as well as in human beings. Several steps of the heme biosynthetic chain are subject to the toxic effects of lead. ALA- dehydratase and Ferrochelatase, in particular, are two enzymes which are strongly inhibited by lead, leading to decreased heme synthesis, a constituent of hemoglobin. The inhibition of ALA dehydratase in the red blood cells by lead is generally recognized as the most sensitive index of the individuals exposure to this environmental chemical. Earlier reports show that the determination of blood lead content (Pb-B), zinc protoporphyrin levels and erythrocyte Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA.D) are widely used as biological indicators for lead toxicity. Hence, the aim of the present study was to screen for occupational exposure to lead in the workers of three different occupations and correlate their blood lead levels with erythrocyte ALA.D and total blood porphyrin content as biochemical indicators of lead exposure.

• OSTI ID: 6943004
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA), Vol. 44:2; ISSN 0007-4861
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
HEME
BIOSYNTHESIS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
TOXICITY
OXIDOREDUCTASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
AMINOLEVULINIC ACID
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
ERYTHROCYTES
HEMOGLOBIN
MEN
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PORPHYRINS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ENZYMES
GLOBINS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology