Effects of lead on red blood cell membrane proteins.

The effects of lead on red blood cell (RBC) membrane proteins were studied in two groups of workers with different lead exposure levels: Group I (6 subjects employed in a battery plant) with a mean blood lead of 40.1 (SD = 3.7) micrograms/100 ml; Group II (5 workers employed in different industries) with a mean blood lead of 60.6 (SD = 8.0) micrograms/100 ml, compared with a control group with mean blood lead of 15.6 (SD = 9.3) micrograms/100 ml. The analysis of RBC membrane polypeptides was carried out by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and by using a densitometer for percentage measurement of the bands corresponding to protein fractions. The results show a very significant decrease in Band 3 (anion channel) and 4.1 in more exposed workers (Group II) only. The effects of lead on RBC membrane proteins seem to be evident at blood-lead levels higher (greater than 50 micrograms/100 ml) than those previously reported in literature. These results confirm the effects of lead on membrane proteins, even if the exact mechanism, particularly the influence of proteolysis and the meaning of the interference, still needs to be investigated thoroughly.

Urinary excretion of the metabolites of n-hexane and its isomers during occupational exposure.

Environmental exposure to commercial hexane (n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, and 3-methylpentane) was tested in several work places in five shoe factories by taking three grap-air samples during the afternoon shift. Individual exposure ranges were 32-500 mg/m3 for n-hexane, 11-250 mg/m3 for 2-methylpentane, and 10-204 mg/m3 for 3-methylpentane. The metabolites of commercial hexane in the urine of 41 workers were measured at the end of the work shift. 2-Hexanol, 2,5-hexanedione, 2,5-dimethylfuran, and gamma-valerolactone were found as n-hexane metabolites and 2-methyl-2-pentanol and 3-methyl-2-pentanol as 2-methylpentane and 3-methylpentane metabolites. The presence of metabolites in the urine was correlated with occupational exposure to solvents. n-Hexane exposure was correlated more positively with 2-hexanol and 2,5-hexanedione than with 2,5-dimethylfuran and gamma-valerolactone. A good correlation was also found between total n-hexane metabolites and n-hexane exposure. 2-Methyl-2-pentanol and 3-methyl-2-pentanol were highly correlated with 2-methylpentane and 3-methylpentane exposure. The results suggest that the urinary excretion of hexane metabolites may be used for monitoring occupational exposure to n-hexane and its isomers.