Capillary electrophoretic separation of serum proteins of workers occupationally exposed to heavy metals

Abstract

Metallurgy processes are associated with many hazardous and toxic factors, including heavy metals. Exposure to heavy metals can cause damage to different organs, which can be observed through variation in the concentration of proteins in serum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in a serum protein profile of copper smelters exposed to As, Cd and Pb ions, and xenobiotics present in tobacco smoke. A 2.3-fold higher Pb concentration in the blood and a 2.8-fold greater As concentration have been observed in the urine of nonsmoking smelters compared to a control group. In the blood of smoking smelters, Cd concentration was 2-fold higher than in non-smoking ones. Serum proteins were separated by capillary electrophoresis, and in the group of non-smoking smelters, a higher amount of α 1 -globulins was observed. In the group of smoking smelters, fewer α 1 -globulins were noted. Furthermore, a greater amount of α 2 -globulins in the serum of smoking and non-smoking workers in relation to the control group was revealed. A positive correlation between the concentration of Cd in the blood and the content of a fraction containing α 1 -and α 2 -globulins was revealed. Urine Cd concentration was found to be negatively associated with the α 1 -and α 2 -globulins fraction. Observed abnormalities in the proteins profiles of smelters can be important markers when assessing exposure to heavy metals and in the early diagnosis of diseases caused by them.

The Influence of Tobacco Smoke on Protein and Metal Levels in the Serum of Women during Pregnancy

“…Despite the fact that there was no statistically significant change between the concentration of albumin in smoking and non-smoking women, the average decrease in albumin levels during pregnancy was higher in the blood of smoking women than in the non-smoking women (21.32% vs 8.55%). In our study, albumin levels correlated negatively with cotinine level, but not with Cd, which was reflected in other research [ 34 ]. Cadmium in the blood binds to albumin as well as metallothionein.…”