Rakesh Balachandar, Ankit Viramgami, Dhirendrapratap Singh, P Sivaperumal, Kuldip Upadhyay
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: The systemic illnesses associated with chronic lead exposure are partially explained by the interaction between lead and calcium metabolism. Lead exposure is posited to alter calcium levels either by altering calcium homeostasis markers or altering bone remodeling. The present study investigated the interaction between blood lead levels and calcium homeostasis markers and bone remodeling markers among lead-smelting plant workers.
Method: Adult male workers employed at the lead-smelting plant were clinically investigated as part of their regular occupational health assessment program. Additionally, control participants without occupational lead exposure, employed in administrative and white-collar jobs were invited to participate in the study. Sociodemographic and occupational details were collected by pre-standardized semi-structured questionnaires from all consenting participants, followed by clinical examination and blood collection. Blood lead levels were estimated using microwave-assisted acid digestion and the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. Serum calcium and total protein and alkaline phosphatase levels were estimated as per standard biochemical techniques. 25-hydroxy vitamin-D3, calcitriol, and osteocalcin were estimated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition to comparative analysis for comparing the two groups, independent linear regression models were explored to investigate the associations between serum calcium and blood lead and osteocalcin levels.
Result: A total of 189 lead-exposed men employed at the lead-smelting plant and 25 male control participants consented to participate. The two groups were similar in age, diet, and body mass index. Occupationally exposed individuals exhibited significantly lower serum calcium and higher bone remodeling markers (osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase) as compared to controls. However, the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin-D3 and calcitriol levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Lastly, the serum lead and osteocalcin were weakly but significantly associated with serum calcium levels after controlling for variations in total protein, diet, 25-hydroxy vitamin-D3, calcitriol, and alkaline phosphatase in the study participants.
Conclusion: Current observations reinforce the adverse role of lead exposure on calcium metabolism. Although lead exposure is posited to affect calcium metabolism by multiple pathways, current study observations favor the bone remodeling pathway. The observations recommend periodic screening for calcium and bone health among lead-exposed adults.
期刊介绍：
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health publishes Editorials, Review Articles, Original Articles, and Letters to the Editor. It welcomes any manuscripts dealing with occupational or ambient environmental problems, with a special interest in research at the interface of occupational health and clinical medicine. The scope ranges from Biological Monitoring to Dermatology, from Fibers and Dust to Human Toxicology, from Nanomaterials and Ultra-fine Dust to Night- and Shift Work, from Psycho-mental Distress and Burnout to Vibrations. A complete list of topics can be found on the right-hand side under For authors and editors.
In addition, all papers should be based on present-day standards and relate to:
-Clinical and epidemiological studies on morbidity and mortality
-Clinical epidemiological studies on the parameters relevant to the estimation of health risks
-Human experimental studies on environmental health effects. Animal experiments are only acceptable if relevant to pathogenic aspects.
-Methods for studying the topics mentioned above.
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