Effect of Occupational Manganese Exposure on Uric Acid Levels in Human Urine

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of long-term and low-level occupational Mn exposure on the level of uric acid (UA) in human urine. Methods In this study, 65 volunteers were recruited, who were working on welding and foundry work in an plant in Gansu province, China. Additionally, 29 control samples were collected from individuals who did not have any history of excessive Mn exposure. An improved high performance liquid chromatography system equipped with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) method was developed to determine the UA level in human urine. A Spectra AA 220 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to measure the Mn level in the urine. Results The analytical method was validated for concentrations ranging from 3.82–45.84 μg/mL with acceptable accuracy, precision, and recovery. Overall, the UA levels of Mn exposure samples were significantly lower than that of control samples ( P<0.05). Conclusion The practical method developed here is suitable for both routine monitoring of UA level in human urine and metabolism research. Long-term and low-level occupational Mn exposure may lead to a lower UA level in urine, and UA might be an indicator of the early stage of manganism.