EFFECT OF LEAD ON THE LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN SAUDI-ARABIA WITH SPECIALREFERENCE TO SMOKING

Lead was determined in whole blood samples obtained from 161 Saudi mal e volunteers. The influence of smoking on lead exposure was investigat ed. Blood lead was significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers (p < 0.05). The association between blood lead concentrations and lym phocytes subsets was examined. Among the measured immune variables onl y helper inducer cells, helper suppression ratio and T suppressor-indu cer cells showed a significant relationship with blood lead. However, in both cases, this effect was not seen when the non-smoker group was examined. In this study smoking, which constitutes an important source of lead exposure, can alter the immune response.