THE INFLUENCE OF ATMOSPHERIC CHROMIUM ON SELENIUM CONTENT AND GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN BLOOD OF TANNERY WORKERS

The concentration of selenium and thiobarbituric acid reactive substan ces (TEARS) and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were deter mined in blood of 34 workers of a tannery in Gniezno, Poland, who work ed in an area containing chromium compounds. Fourteen workers were exp osed to chromium compounds at concentrations of 0.ll +/- 0.07 mg Cr/m( 3) (mean +/- SD) and 20 at concentrations 5-10 times lower i.e., 0.022 +/- 0.009 mg Cr/m(3). Excretion of Se in urine was measured in all of the investigated workers. Decreased Se concentration in whole blood a nd blood plasma and elevated TEARS concentration in blood plasma were found in the whole group of investigated tanners as compared to contro ls. Tanners working in areas with high chromium concentrations had a s tatistically significant decrease in Se concentration in blood and pla sma and decreased urinary excretion of the microelement as compared wi th other tanners. TBARS concentration was 2.5 times lower in workers e xposed to higher chromium concentrations (p<0.005) than in other worke rs. Positive linear correlations were found between the concentration of Se in blood and the amount of the element excreted in urine (r = 0. 48; p<0.005), the concentration of Se in blood plasma and in urine (r = 0.46; p<0.01), and the concentration of Se in blood and erythrocyte GSH-Px activity (r = 0.42; p<0.02). The observed differences between S e concentration in blood and urine of tannery workers and people who a re not employed in the industry may indicate a kind of specific adapta tion of the body to the working environment containing chromium compou nds.