Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers
Background: Occupational exposure is a major source for lead poisoning in adults. Lead toxicity disrupts the functions of the digestive system, nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, etc. Lead decreases the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase which increases the excretion...
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Al Ameen Medical College
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://ajms.alameenmedical.org/ArticlePDFs/6%20AJMS%20V13.N3.2020%20p%20172-177.pdf |
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| author | Neelam J. Patil Pooja V. Bhatt Sachin A. Patharkar Alka V. Nerurkar Pradeep N. Surve Kapil Bhatia |
| author_facet | Neelam J. Patil Pooja V. Bhatt Sachin A. Patharkar Alka V. Nerurkar Pradeep N. Surve Kapil Bhatia |
| author_sort | Neelam J. Patil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Occupational exposure is a major source for lead poisoning in adults. Lead toxicity disrupts the functions of the digestive system, nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, etc. Lead decreases the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase which increases the excretion δ-aminolevulinic acid. The present study is based on this principle by which lead exposure is detected by measuring the urinary δ-ALA levels in construction workers Aim: To estimate the urinary delta aminolevulinic acid levels in construction workers as an index of lead exposure. Materials and methods: The study was done on 55construction workers of age group between 18 years and 50 years with their brief history related to lead exposure. Their urine samples were analysed for δ-ALA by Ehrlich method. Results: According to our observation, it was found that out of the 55 urine samples; 16 samples (29.09%) had urinary δ-ALA levels below reference value (<5 mg/L), while 39 samples showed increased urinary δ-ALA levels (70.91%); out of these, 32 workers (82.05%) fell in the moderate-to-high exposure level category (5 or >5 to 20 mg/L), 7 workers (17.94%) fell in the dangerous - very high exposure level category (20 or >20 to 40 mg/L). Conclusion: We conclude that there is high prevalence of lead exposure in construction workers in Mumbai, and necessary precautions need to be taken to avoid it. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:06:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa90049ebc3840e3870a8b16a545cf6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-1143 0974-1143 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:06:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Al Ameen Medical College |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa90049ebc3840e3870a8b16a545cf6e2022-12-21T19:32:16ZengAl Ameen Medical CollegeAl Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences0974-11430974-11432020-07-011303172177Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workersNeelam J. Patil0Pooja V. Bhatt1Sachin A. Patharkar2Alka V. Nerurkar3Pradeep N. Surve4Kapil Bhatia5Department of Biochemistry, Topiwala National Medical College & B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai-400008 Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Topiwala National Medical College & B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai-400008 Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Topiwala National Medical College & B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai-400008 Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Topiwala National Medical College & B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai-400008 Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Topiwala National Medical College & B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai-400008 Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Armed Forces Medical College, Wanowrie, Pune-411040, Maharashtra, IndiaBackground: Occupational exposure is a major source for lead poisoning in adults. Lead toxicity disrupts the functions of the digestive system, nervous system, respiratory system, reproductive system, etc. Lead decreases the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase which increases the excretion δ-aminolevulinic acid. The present study is based on this principle by which lead exposure is detected by measuring the urinary δ-ALA levels in construction workers Aim: To estimate the urinary delta aminolevulinic acid levels in construction workers as an index of lead exposure. Materials and methods: The study was done on 55construction workers of age group between 18 years and 50 years with their brief history related to lead exposure. Their urine samples were analysed for δ-ALA by Ehrlich method. Results: According to our observation, it was found that out of the 55 urine samples; 16 samples (29.09%) had urinary δ-ALA levels below reference value (<5 mg/L), while 39 samples showed increased urinary δ-ALA levels (70.91%); out of these, 32 workers (82.05%) fell in the moderate-to-high exposure level category (5 or >5 to 20 mg/L), 7 workers (17.94%) fell in the dangerous - very high exposure level category (20 or >20 to 40 mg/L). Conclusion: We conclude that there is high prevalence of lead exposure in construction workers in Mumbai, and necessary precautions need to be taken to avoid it.http://ajms.alameenmedical.org/ArticlePDFs/6%20AJMS%20V13.N3.2020%20p%20172-177.pdfblood lead levels (bll)lead poisoning in construction workersurinary delta aminolevulinic acid (δ-ala) |
| spellingShingle | Neelam J. Patil Pooja V. Bhatt Sachin A. Patharkar Alka V. Nerurkar Pradeep N. Surve Kapil Bhatia Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences blood lead levels (bll) lead poisoning in construction workers urinary delta aminolevulinic acid (δ-ala) |
| title | Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers |
| title_full | Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers |
| title_fullStr | Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers |
| title_short | Determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine; a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers |
| title_sort | determination of delta aminolevulinic acid levels in urine a sensitive indicator of lead exposure in construction workers |
| topic | blood lead levels (bll) lead poisoning in construction workers urinary delta aminolevulinic acid (δ-ala) |
| url | http://ajms.alameenmedical.org/ArticlePDFs/6%20AJMS%20V13.N3.2020%20p%20172-177.pdf |
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