Antioxidant and Micronutrient Status of Nigerian Males Occupationally Exposed to Lead

^1*Okafor J.C., ²Obianagha N.F., ¹Salum S.S., ³Anetor J.I., ⁴Mohamed A.A., and ⁴Mohammed S.

¹Department of Pathology and Biochemistry, State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

²Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria.

³Department of Chemical Pathology University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Allied Health Sciences, State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

^*Corresponding Author’s: E-mail Addresses ✉: chumario2k@yahoo.com

Accepted January 24, 2020

All forms of life maintain a reducing environment within their cells. This reducing environment is preserved by enzymes that maintain the reduced state through a constant input of metabolic energy. Disturbances in this normal redox state can cause toxic effects through the production of peroxides and free radicals that damage all components of the cell, including proteins, lipids and DNA. A total of 150 participants consisting of 50 battery chargers (BC), 50 auto painters (AP) and 50 office workers (controls) were selected for the study. Lead (blood lead levels-BLL), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Selenium (Se) levels and were determined in the whole blood and serum using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Total Plasma Peroxide (TPP) and other antioxidants were also determined in the serum using spectrophotometric techniques. Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) was computed. The BLL, TPP, and OSI were all significantly elevated in lead workers (p<0.0001 in all cases). In contrast the micronutrients, Fe, Se, and Zn were all significantly reduced in lead workers (p<0.0001). The GPx, CAT, SOD, Uric acid and Vitamin C levels were all significantly reduced in lead workers (p<0.0001; 0.01(for uric acid). Lead suppresses the micronutrient and antioxidant status to induce oxidative stress in exposure.

Key words: Lead, battery chargers (BC), auto painters (AP), Oxidative Stress Index (OSI).

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