Evaluation of Some Cardiovascular Markers in Lead- Recycling Factory Workers

Abstract

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that has no known safe blood concentration. This study was designed to assess the
blood pressure, body mass index, fasting lipid profile and plasma glucose levels, and cardiac enzyme activity in leadrecycling
factory workers in Nnewi. A total of eighty-two (82) subjects (41 test and 41 control subjects) aged between twenty
and sixty years who gave their written informed consent were recruited for the study. After an overnight fast, 5 milliliters
of blood sample was collected from each individual and dispensed into a sterile plain container and allowed to clot and
retracted. The blood was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and the serum was separated and used for the analysis
of all the biochemical parameters. The determination of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), body mass
index, as well as biochemical parameters including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), creatine
kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, were done using standard methods.
Results showed that the mean levels of SBP, DBP, TC, LDL-C, and FPG as well as the mean serum activities of CK, and
LDH were significantly increased in the lead-recycling factory workers when compared tothe control (p < .05) but there
was a significant decrease in the mean concentration of HDL-C when compared to control (p < .05). However, there were
no significant alterations in TG and VLDL-C concentrations in factory workers when compared to control subjects (p > .05).
These findings are suggestive of alterations in some cardiovascular markers in lead-recycling factory workers.