Zinc and Selenium levels in Motor Mechanics, Paints Sprayers, Smokers, Lubricant Workers and Battery Workers Exposed to Lead in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Objectives: This work was designed to determine zinc and Selenium levels in Motor Mechanics, Paints Sprayers, Smokers, Lubricant Workersand BatteryWorkers exposed to lead in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria.Subjects and methods: 100 exposed subjects were used for the study. The subjects were aged 25-30 years. The control subjects consisted of100 apparently healthy non-exposed age-matched individuals. The participants were educated on the benefits of the study and their informedconsent obtained before commencement of the study. Blood lead, zinc and selenium levels were determined in both exposed and controlsubjects.Results: The result shows that there was a significant increase in the blood lead level in the exposed subjects (23.00ƒÝg/dL„b1.77), whencompared with controls lead levels (10.68ƒÝg/dL „b29, P< 0.05),a significant decrease in zinc levels ( 104.73ƒÝg/dL „b1.9 ),when compared with controls zinc levels(130.68ƒÝg/dL „b1.24, P< 0.05) and a significant decrease in selenium levels( 60.99ƒÝg/dL „b1.01) when compared with thecontrols selenium levels (99.13ƒÝg/dL „b1.09 P< 0.05).Conclusion: These findings stated above appear to suggest that the occupationally exposed subjects have reduced serum zinc and selenium,with increase blood lead.