Evaluation of Serum Copper and Iron Level among Lead Exposure Workers in Khartoum State

Abstract

Background: Lead is a pervasive and persistent environmental pollutant which exists in almost all phases of environment and biological systems, although Lead causes neurological, hematological, gastrointestinal, reproductive, circulatory and immunological pathologies and interact with essential element, exposure to it is still unavoidable. Accordingly the study conducted to assess the effect of occupational lead exposure on blood level of iron and copper among factory workers. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study wasconducted during the period of February to Marsh 2016. Eighty one subjects were enrolled in this study; they were classified into 40 subjects whom expose to lead as case and 41 whom not expose to lead as control, their age vary from 19 -60 years old, serum iron, copper and lead levels were measured usingatomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The mean concentration of copper was significantly increased among lead exposure subjects (0.312±0.273) in comparison with (0.073±0.024) in unexposed with p-value 0.000. In contrast the mean iron level showed insignificant difference in exposed subject (0.229±0.085) versus unexposed (0.223±0.078) with p-value 0.676. Also our results revealed insignificant difference in mean concentration of copper and iron in highly expose in comparison with low expose p value 0.808 andp-value 0.469 respectively. Person’s correlation showed, serum copper levelis inverselycorrelated with serum ironand serum Lead concentration (r=-0.379, p-value 0.015) and (r=-0.394, p-value 0.011)Conclusion: The study concluded that serum copper is higher among occupational lead exposure while iron is not changed.