EVALUATION OF SELENIUM EXPOSURE IN COPPER REFINERY WORKERS

Concentrations of selenium in plasma and urine and activity of glutath ione peroxidase in erythrocytes were determined in workers exposed to selenium and in a control group. Plasma selenium concentrations were s ignificantly lower in exposed workers compared to the controls. Erythr ocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in selenium workers was signific antly higher than in the control subjects. Urine selenium concentratio ns were not statistically different between the two groups. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma selenium concentrati ons and urine selenium concentrations in workers exposed to selenium. A weak significant positive correlation was found between plasma selen ium concentrations and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in exposed workers. Our results suggest that the lower plasma selenium co ncentrations in selenium workers may be attributed to an increase of u rinary selenium excretion.