Erythrocyte-Zn-protoporphyrin as an indicator of lead exposure

Abstract

Measurement of erythrocte-Zn-protoporphyrin with a haematofluorimeter on blood samples from eighty-four lead-exposed individuals has been compared with a fluorimetric determination of the extracted porphyrins. The results agreed well, and the interference from bilirubin and unchelated protoporphyrin was low. An exponential increase in erythrocyte protoporphyrin and a linear decrease in blood haemoglobin with increased blood lead was found in seventy-nine males with occupational lead exposure. The haematofluorimeter is recommended as a useful tool in screening for lead poisoning.

Psychological dysfunctions in lead-exposed workers. Relation to biological parameters of exposure.

“…In the exposed population, however, 15 workers showed one or more results in excess Exposed group Table 2. Results of exposure tests of the lead-exposed group of the permissible levels, i.e., 2.9 ,umol Pbll blood, 350 }lmol ZPP/mol Hb (Fe), or 500 ,umol Pblkg hair (11,12,30). The median exposure levels were only moderately increased (table 2).…”

“…The amount of lead in the blood, however, is not hazardous itself, but it may be used as a predictor of toxic effects such as anemia or intellectual impairment. It has recently been shown that ZPP correlates better than PbB with hemoglobin concentrations in the blood (12,16). Thus, ZPP may be a better predictor for anemia than PbB.…”

“…The PbH levels were determined from the analysis of the first l-cm segment close to the hair root of 3-5 single hairs (11). The ZPP concentration relative to that of hemoglobin in capillary blood was assessed by an Aviv Hematofluorometer (12). Previous analytic results performed by the National Institute of Occupational Hygiene were available, but it was not possible to determine the level of exposure in the past from the irregular control with different methods.…”

“…Other biological indicators of lead absorption are available. Both the determination of zinc protoporphyrin in erythrocytes (5,12) and the analysis of lead in hair (11) have been recommended as monitors of long-term lead exposure, and both are convenient for screening studies. In the present investigation we report the relations between psychological test results of lead exposed workers and exposure parameters, namely, lead in blood (PbB), lead in hair (PbH) , and zinc protoporphyrin in blood (ZPP).…”

Zinc Protoporphyrin IX Concentrations between Normal Adults and the Lead-Exposed Workers Measured by HPLC, Spectrofluorometer, and Hematofluorometer.

“…Due to these characteristics, the presence of ZPP has been utilized as a marker to chronic lead absorption in several studies [4][5][6] . ZPP represents the average effect of lead absorption during 3~4 months 7,8) . Several investigators reported a positive correlation between concentrations of blood lead and ZPP when workers were exposed to high level of lead [3][4][5][6][9][10][11] .…”