Selenium Levels in Occupationally Lead Exposed Workers of Rajasthan

Occupational and environmental exposure to Lead (Pb) has profound detrimental effects on human health. The underlying mechanism of lead toxicity is not fully understood but antioxidant imbalance is suggested to be a key player in its pathogenesis. Selenium (Se) being a vital component of antioxidant system in the body, has been linked to many health benefits in humans. Selenium levels in occupationally Pb exposed individuals has not been explored in Indian setup. The aim of the present study is to find out the association of Se with blood lead levels (BLL) in occupationally Pb exposed individuals. In the present study 91 occupationally Pb exposed workers employed in handicraft and paint industries were recruited after taking informed consent. The demographic details were noted on self-generated questionnaire. The BLL and Se were measured using GFAAS (Thermofisher Scientific, Waltham, USA). Samples were run in duplicate after ensuring quality control. The mean Pb and Se levels in the study population were 5.5 +/- 5.6 mu g/dl (0.42-31.76 mu g/dl) and 105.5 +/- 23.8 mu g/dl (46.4-189.6 mu g/dl) respectively. BLL was significantly higher in tobacco chewers and those occupationally exposed to Pb for more than 5 years. Significantly low Se levels were observed in individuals with high BLL. Statistically significant negative linear relationship was noted between BLL and Se. The negative correlation of Se with BLL indicates the antagonistic relationship between these metals.