Effect of automobile exhaust on the distribution of trace elements and its modulation following Fe, Cu, and Zn supplementation

Abstract

The effect of automobile exhaust on the distribution of trace elements with special reference to Pb and its modulation following Cu, Zn, and Fe supplementation, in mouse organs, has been studied using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence technique. Seven elements, namely K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, and Pb, were detected in all the organs. The maximum concentration of Pb was found in lungs followed by that in liver and kidney. The effect of automobile exhaust was found to be significant on the concentrations of Fe and Pb; their concentrations were found to increase in all the organs. However, the concentrations of Cu and Zn were found to be decreased significantly in the liver. In the animals given Fe, Cu, or Zn supplementation along with motor exhaust, the percentage change in the concentration of Pb in lungs was decreased, and that of Fe was increased significantly. In kidney, no significant change was observed for the animals given Cu and Zn, whereas for animals given Fe, the level of Pb decreased significantly. In liver, the reduction in the level of Zn in the exhaust-exposed animals was made up and the level of Pb was reduced following Zn supplementation. These results clearly indicate that Fe and Zn play an important role in Pb metabolism and tend to lower the absorption of Pb. The effect of Fe is more pronounced than that of Zn, whereas the effect of Cu seems to be insignificant.

X-ray fluorescence in the assessment of inter-elemental interactions in rat liver following lead treatment

“…The interactions between lead, zinc and copper may result in the retardation of body growth, may produce cardiomyopathy and hypertension and might even interfere with iron metabolism , Flanagan et al 1979. Furthermore, exposure to lead in the form of vehicular exhaust has been shown to interact with Fe, Cu, Zn, K, Rb and Br species in biological samples (Kumar et al 1991, Singh et al 1994. There is, however, a clear lack of information about the dose and time dependent interactions of lead with different elements in rat liver.…”

“…We have previously reported (Singh et al 1994) significantly increased levels of blood Fe in lead battery manufacturers. Kumar et al (1991) have shown that Fe content of liver was raised by about 60% in animals exposed to automobile exhaust, and suggested that host defence response is enhanced so as to 100 mg/kg 31.9 +_ 3.1"*** 0.47 _+ 0.10'** 15.4 + 2.2***** 90.0 + 13.0 9.20 • 1.7"** 25.5 _+ 3.3*** 17.2 _+ 3.5 (-17%) (+38%) (-27%) (-5%) (-21%) (-12%) -33.7 _+ 3.2*** 0.50 • 0.10"**** 15.0 + 3.2**** 86.6 _+ 17.0 8.90 _+ 2.1"* 27.1 + 3.7 22.3 _+ 7.5 (-12%) (+47%) (-29%) (+9%) (-23%) (-6%) -23.2 • 4.3***** 0.75 + 0.34**** 16.5 + 2.2***** 109 • 13.0"*** 8.9 + 1.1*** 32.3 + 3.9*** 17.4 + 2.0 (-39%) (+120%) (-22%) (+15%) (-23%) (+12%) -15.8 • 5.0***** 0.95 • 0.20***** 14.7 + 1.1'**** 116 • 18.0"*** 9.1 + 2.5* 33.2 _+ 5.1" 21.9 • 1.9 (-59%) (+179%) (-31%) (+23%) (-22%) (+15%) -*P < 0.1: **P < 0.05: ***P < 0.025;****P < 0.01; *****P < 0.005. N.D. -not determined.…”

“…Kumar et al (1991) recently reported a significant reduction of about 12% in hepatic K levels of experimental animals exposed to automobile exhaust. Lead has been reported to alter membrane permeability, bind to active sites involved in K permeability and inhibit active transport by blocking Na+/K + ATPase activity (Lakshmi 1989).…”

“…They possibly enter the animal system from the environment, particularly through the diet. Kumar et al (1991) found that when experimental rats were exposed to motor exhaust for 24 min per day for 3 months, a significant decrease of 13% was observed in hepatic Rb levels. We observed a similarly significant decrease (P < 0.1) in hepatic Rb levels following shortterm low dose lead administration, although the long-term lead supplementation (at both dose levels) resulted in a significant increase in hepatic Rb levels.…”

“…Various reports describe the interactions of lead with other elements (Finelli et al 1975, Ragan 1977, Kumar et al 1991. Lead ingestion can reduce the nutritional efficacy of zinc and copper by causing a decrease in the absorption of these nutrients (E1-Gazzar et al 1978, Pettering 1978, Finelli & E1-Gazzar 1977.…”