Mls. Queiroz et al., IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS AND CELLULAR IMMUNE FUNCTION IN LEAD-EXPOSED WORKERS, Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology, 16(1), 1994, pp. 115-128
The immunological status of lead acid battery workers with blood lead
levels and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA-U) concentrations ra
nging from safe to toxic levels has been examined and compared with th
ose of non-exposed, age and sex matched controls. No differences in th
e serum concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM between the populations wer
e observed and there existed no correlation between blood lead level o
r ALA-U concentrations and serum immunoglobulin levels. In addition as
sessment was made of the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cell
s to respond to the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), a correlate of
T cell function. As before, there was no difference between exposed an
d control populations and no correlation between reactivity and blood
lead concentration. Our data Suggest that chronic exposure to lead fai
l to compromise lymphocyte function in man.