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Med. Pr. 2005;56(5)

The influence of occupational exposure to arsenic and heavy metals on the activity of catepsins and their inhibitors in blood serum of copper smelters

Wpływ zawodowego narażenia na arsen i metale ciężkie na aktywność katepsyn i ich inhibitorów w surowicy krwi pracowników huty mi

Ewa Dynerowicz-Bal, Ryszard Andrzejak, Jolanta Antonowicz-Juchniewicz, Maciej Siewiński, Elżbieta Sujak, Beata Smyk Medical University Wrocław, Poland

Abstract

Background: Exposure to arsenic, lead, and cadmium poses the risk of cancer. Cathepsins (CP) and their natural inhibitors (CPI) in blood serum are markers of carcinogensis. The aim of this work was to verify the existence of relationships betweenthe exposure to the aforesaid elements and the activity of CP and CPI. Materials and Methods: The levels of Pb and Cd in blood, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, Fe, Se CP as well as free and bound CPI in serum, FEP in erythrocytes, and As in urine were measured in 186 production workers of Legnica Copper Smelter (study group) and 56 administrative employees (control group) and then analyzed. Results: CP levels were significantly elevated in both groups and CPI levels were elevated in the study group vs. the control group. There were no statistically significant relationships between CP and CPI levels and the remaining parameters in the study group, whereas they were found for CPI in the control group. The results indicate that occupational and environmental exposures to toxic metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium) may lead to the elevated levels of CP and CPI. Conclusions: The obtained results support the assumptions of the study.

Key words

arsenic, lead, cadmium, cathepsins (CP), inhibitors of cathepsins (CPI)