The biotoxic effects of heavy metals exposure in miners and non-miners

Narjes Soltani; Tabandeh Sadeghi; Mohammad Reza Mahmoodi; Majid Saadloo; Mohammad Reza Baneshi; Zohreh Rajabi; Ali Shamsizadeh

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127423

The biotoxic effects of heavy metals exposure in miners and non-miners

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2024 Mar 4:84:127423. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127423. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Narjes Soltani¹, Tabandeh Sadeghi², Mohammad Reza Mahmoodi³, Majid Saadloo⁴, Mohammad Reza Baneshi⁵, Zohreh Rajabi⁶, Ali Shamsizadeh⁷

Affiliations

¹ Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Iran; Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
² Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
³ Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology & Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
⁴ Occupational Safety and Health Research Center, NICICO, WSO and Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
⁵ University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁶ Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
⁷ Occupational Safety and Health Research Center, NICICO, WSO and Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Electronic address: ashamsi@rums.ac.ir.

PMID: 38503128
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127423

Abstract

Since little is known about the comparison of the biotoxic effects of heavy metals exposure on biochemical and hematological parameters in miners and non-miners, the current study aimed to compare the effects of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) in both groups. Demographic information and blood samples were collected from all participants and measures of As, Pb and Cu were obtained using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. As and Pb mean concentrations in miners and Cu concentration were greater in non-miners. Miners also showed significantly higher level of RBC, HBG and HCT. In the adjusted model, cholesterol showed a positively association with Pb and Cu levels. Triglycerides, GGT, ALP, WBC and PLT positively and HDL-cholesterol negatively were associated with Cu. Creatinine was negatively associated with group variable. In conclusion, miners' high blood heavy metals concentrations can impact biochemical and hematological indices. These observations make monitoring of heavy metals necessary in miners.

Keywords: Arsenic; Biochemical and hematological parameters; Copper; Heavy metals; Lead; Miners.