tological tests including complete blood counts (CBC) and serum ferritin ..... Eden AE. Iron deficiency and blood lead levels. Pedi- atrics 114: 329, 2004. 15.
ULUSLARARASı HEMATOLOJI-ONKOLOJI DERGISI
ARTICLE
International Journal of Hematology and Oncology
Correlation Between Iron Deficiency and Lead Intoxication in the Workers of a Car Battery Plant Mohammad R. KERAMATI1, Mohammad H. SADEGHIAN2, Mahdi MOOD3 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Neonatal Research Center Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Department of Hematopathology 3 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad, IRAN 1
2
ABSTRACT Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional anemia in developed and developing countries. In addition, lead intoxication especially in developing countries is an increasing risk for health, because of rapid urbanization and consumption of leaded fuels. Many studies particularly in children have showed a correlation between iron deficiency and high blood lead concentration. In this study, we have evaluated this association in workers of a car battery manufacturer. This research was performed on workers who exposed to lead in a factory of car battery of Mashhad, Iran in 2006. Hematological tests including complete blood counts (CBC) and serum ferritin concentration (radioimmunoassay method) were measured. Blood lead concentration (BLC) was estimated by heated graphite atomization technique of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin Elemer, Model 3030). Results analyzed by the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS, version 11.5), using statistical tests including independent samples t-test, Mann- Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. P value < 0.05 was considered as a significant level. Based on clinical (lead line) and laboratory observation, all workers had lead intoxication with mean BLC of 32.2± 13.7 µg/dl. There were no statistical significant difference on mean BLC in iron deficient (n= 11) and non iron deficient workers (n= 78). There were also no significant correlation between BLC and either serum ferritin or blood hemoglobin (r= 0.18, p value= 0.091 and r= 0.051, p value= 0.682, respectively). In this study, we did not observe any correlation between BLC with either serum ferritin or hemoglobin or the other blood parameters. However, similar research in a larger population is required to make a general conclusion. Keywords: Lead, Anemia, Ferritin, Iron deficiency, Hemoglobin, Intoxication
ÖZET Akü Sanayiinde Çal›flan ‹flçilerde Demir Eksikli¤i Anemisi ile Kurflun ‹ntoksikasyonu ‹liflkisi Demir eksikli¤i anemisi, geliflmifl ve geliflmekte olan ülkelerde en çok görülen beslenmeye ba¤l› anemidir. Ayr›ca, kurflun intoksikasyonu da geliflmekte olan ülkelerde, h›zl› kentleflme ve kurflunlu yak›tlar›n tüketilmesine ba¤l› olarak, artan bir sa¤l›k problemidir. Baz› çal›flmalarda, çocuklarda yüksek kan kurflun de¤erleri ile demir eksikli¤i anemisi aras›nda korelasyon oldu¤u gösterilmifltir. Bu çal›flmada akü sanayiinde çal›flan iflçilerde bu korelasyonu araflt›rd›k. Bu çal›flma, 2006 y›l›nda Meflhed , ‹ran’da akü fabrikas›nda kurfluna maruz kalan iflçiler üzerinde yap›ld›. Tam kan say›m› ve serum ferritin (radyoimmünoassay) düzeylerini içeren hematolojik çal›flmalar yap›ld›. Kan kurflun düzeyi atomik absorbsiyon spektrofotometresinde (Perkin Elemer, Model 3030) termal grafit atomizasyon yöntemi ile ölçülmüfltür.
UHOD
Number: 3
Volume: 20 Year: 2010
169
Sonuçlar, SPSS (V 11.5) program›nda ba¤›ms›z de¤iflkenlerde t-testi, Mann- Whitney U testi, Fisher exact testi ve Pearson korelasyonu kullan›larak elde edilmifltir. P 10 µg/dl, but it decreased to 20% in 1998.6 In some studies in pediatric group of large crowded cities in Iran, blood lead levels had been >10 µg/dl in 41-75% cases.7,8 Other studies also showed increase lead intoxication in some careers such as drivers, painters and workers of oil related industries.9-11
This study was approved by the research council and ethics committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. In this cross sectional study following informed consent, all of 105 workers of a car battery plant have been evaluated. Initially, medical history and clinical examination of the workers was performed. Duration of occupational lead exposure, underlying acute and chronic disease and signs of lead intoxication were investigated and recorded. Then blood was drawn and divided into separate tubes for laboratory tests including complete blood counts (CBC), Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells indexes, peripheral blood smear, erythrocytes sedimentation rate, BLC, glucose, urea, creatinin and ferritin concentrations. Whole blood collected for determination of BLC and CBC. BLC was determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer using heated graphite atomization (HGA) technique (Perkin Elemer, Model 3030). According to the U.S centers for disease control and prevention and world health organization standards, BLC ≥10 µg/dl was defined as lead intoxication.1,12,16-18 CBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cells indexes including mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were analyzed by a cell counter (Sysmex K-21, Japan). Hemoglobin
