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The prevalence of the different phenotypes of alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1PI) was investigated in a group of 90 asthmatic patients and compared with that of a control group of 240 individuals representing the general population. The M2M2 phenotype occurred more frequently in the asthmatic group (p = 0.015). Plasma samples of 51 of the asthmatic patients randomly selected from the different phenotype groups identified were studied for the absolute plasma values of alpha 1-PI and the inhibitory capacity of plasma for porcine pancreatic elastase, and compared with those from 21 nonasthmatic individuals of the M1M1 phenotype. Although the asthmatic patients had higher absolute alpha 1PI values (p = 0.04), the plasma elastase inhibitory capacity was markedly reduced compared with the nonasthmatic subjects (p = 0.01). The functional efficiency of alpha 1PI from asthmatic patients of the M1M1, M1M2, and M2M2 phenotypes was significantly decreased compared with that of the nonasthmatic M1M1 individuals. Functional deficiency of alpha 1PI may be important in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory process that characterizes bronchial asthma.

This study sought to evaluate the in utero exposure to aluminum and status of selected trace elements in South African women at delivery since aluminum is known to be toxic in all developmental stages even at low concentrations. Serum aluminum was negatively correlated with aluminum in urine, both uncorrected and corrected for creatinine, which suggests the retention of aluminum in body stores. Serum copper and zinc levels were found to be high in this study population. Serum copper levels were negatively correlated with aluminum in serum (β = −0.095; p = 0.05). There was a marginal negative correlation between aluminum levels in serum and manganese levels in whole blood (β = −0.087; p = 0.08). Copper levels in maternal serum were negatively correlated with birth weight and the length of neonates. There were a number of positive correlations between maternal characteristics and birth outcomes. Mothers who consumed root vegetables frequently appeared to be protected from aluminum retention and increased body burden since their serum aluminum levels were found to be significantly lower. The findings of the current study can be used as a baseline for further research on aluminum exposure and its associated interactions and outcomes in vulnerable populations.

The aim of this study was to define bio-accumulation and excretion patterns of aluminium in newly employed potroom workers as well as changes in ambient aluminium levels in the potrooms of a modern aluminium smelter during the plant construction stage and one year into full production. A study was carried out on 115 newly employed volunteer potroom workers at various intervals, over a total period of 36 months. Before commencement of employment a structured questionnaire was completed by all study participants and the first collection of blood and urine specimens took place. As none of the subjects had ever worked in the aluminium industry before, they also served as their own controls. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to measure the aluminium content in the biological fluids and the content of the metal in the ambient air of the potrooms. Significantly, the study found an early and marked biological response to inhalation of very low levels of airborne aluminium. After only 12 months, the mean concentration of aluminium in serum had almost doubled; thereafter it levelled off. A mixed model analysis did not find any differences in the concentrations of aluminium in the serum of the subjects since the variation between subjects at any given time was much smaller than the variation within subjects. This may be an indication of the pronounced effect of aluminium inhalation on the kinetics of this metal in the human body. Furthermore, urinary excretion of aluminium by the potroom workers showed a linear increase reaching a concentration of only 49 microg l(-1) at the 36 month stage, suggesting a slow rate of elimination.