Determinations of lead, zinc, cobalt, and iron concentrations in sera of industrial workers (Occupational exposure)
Abstract
All metals are potentially toxic, but, some metals are essential for life. Heavy metals become toxic when they are not metabolized by the body and accumulate in the soft tissues. Heavy metals may enter the human body through food, water, air, or absorption through the skin when they come in contact with humans in agriculture and in manufacturing, pharmaceutical, industrial, or residential settings. Industrial exposure accounts for a common route of exposure for adults [1]. We get exposed to these metals from our surroundings whether our immediate environment or our place of work. This study focused on the workers that worked in industrial field and they are always keeping touch with minerals like Fe, Pb, Zn and Co. These minerals may be poising if they were overdose and causes many healthy problem if the concentration of these elements increased in human body more than body requirement. The occupational exposures for these elements by inhalation or touching or orally are very risk on the healthy. So the present study included twenty four tinkers, and mechanic subjects that work in tin, solder and car repaired and fifteen subjects that were non-worker as control group. The elements, lead, zinc, iron and cobalt were determined in serum of each subject. The results revealed highly significant increase (p<0.0001) in concentration of Pb, Zn, Fe and Co comparing with the control. The worker subjects were classified into groups according to age, smoking, period of working, and obesity depending on body mass index (BMI) then studies their effect on the concentration of these elements. The results showed no any significant differences between each group. There is no significant differences between subjects their age (18-40)year and those (41-60) year in addition no significant differences between smokers and non-smoker groups, obese and non-obese group and no significant differences between workers that works within the period (1-5) year and (6- 15) year. The aim of this object was investigated the association between the elements, Pb, Zn, Fe, Co as a risk factors and workers that work in industrial field and they are always touching with these element.
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