This study compares the seminal plasma trace metal levels of hospital worke
rs with groups of industrial workers in a petroleum refinery, smelter, and
chemical plant. The metals measured were the essential metals (copper, zinc
, nickel, cobalt, and manganese) and the toxic metals (lead, cadmium, and a
luminum). The group mean +/- SE metal level for each group (50 subjects per
group) was calculated, and the statistical significance of the group mean
differences of the industrial groups with the hospital group (control) was
determined by the Student's t-test.
The differences observed in the smelter group were increased copper and zin
c (p less than or equal to 0.001) and decreased nickel, cobalt, and mangane
se (p less than or equal to 0.001, less than or equal to 0.01). The refiner
y group differences were increased copper, zinc, and nickel (p less than or
equal to 0.001) but decreased cobalt and manganese (p less than or equal t
o 0.001). The chemical group differences were increased zinc (p less than o
r equal to 0.001) and decreased cobalt (p less than or equal to 0.001). The
seminal plasma levels of the toxic metals lead and aluminum were increased
in each of the industrial groups (p less than or equal to 0.001). Concurre
nt differences were (1) decreased accumulation of nickel, cobalt, and manga
nese in the smelter group, (2) decreased cobalt and manganese in the refine
ry group, and (3) only decreased cobalt in the chemical group.