Chronic Exposure to Lead: A Cause of Oxidative Stress and Altered Liver Function in Plastic Industry Workers in Kolkata,India

It is well known that chronic exposure of lead leads to adverse health effects. Workers for plastic industry are generally exposed to high concentration of lead as fume, dust, and additive that protect PVC. This study was done on them to find out the detrimental effects of chronic lead exposure on hepatic and hematological toxicity. Blood and 24 h urine sample was collected from 47 plastic industry workers and matched against 42 controls for various parameters. The study group shows significant increase in blood (p < 0.0001) and urinary level of lead (p < 0.0001). Hemoglobin levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.0001), and the liver enzymes like ALP, ALT, AST and y-GT were significantly increased (p < 0.0001) in all cases exposed for >10 years. Serum lipid peroxide by quantitative assay of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was also found increased in the study group (p < 0.0001). The observations point towards the acute health risk faced by plastic industry workers, in whom chronic exposure to lead increases the absorption and accumulation, over a period of time, of this highly toxic element in their body. This increases oxidative stress, causes metabolic damage to RBC and cell membranes, and also suggests necrosis of liver cell, hepatocellular injury and presence of space occupying lesions. Considering the data immediate health and hygiene monitoring and proper rehabilitation for the suffering population seem to be of paramount need in plastic industry to minimize occupational hazards.     

Garlic Oil and Vitamin E Prevent the Adverse Effects of Lead Acetate and Ethanol Separately as well as in Combination in the Drinking Water of Rats

Daily feeding of drinking water containing lead acetate (160 mg/l) or 10% alcohol by volume or a combination of both to rats for a month produced certain deleterious effects through oxidative stress. Both heavy metal lead and alcohol are capable of doing such damages. The deleterious alterations observed were in the parameters of blood, serum and tissues, viz; Hb, Pb, proteins, lipids, lipid per oxidation, Vitamins C and E levels and enzyme activities of AST, ALT, and catalase. Simultaneous feeding of either of the two antioxidants garlic oil (GO) and vitamin E at equal doses of 100 mg/kg/day, to the rats counteracted the deleterious effects of the above two chemicals significantly. The maximum damage was brought about by feeding of drinking water containing both lead acetate and alcohol. The protective effects of GO and Vitamin E were not significantly different. The mechanism of actions of the Vitamin E and GO is probably due to their efficiency as detoxifying agents and antioxidants, to scavenging free radicals as well as an independent action of GO on the removal of lead salt as lead sulfide.     

Biochemical Effects of Lead Exposure on Battery Manufacture Workers with Reference to Blood Pressure, Calcium Metabolism and Bone Mineral Density

Lead is one of the most widely scattered toxic metals in the environment and used by mankind for over 9,000 years. Lead in the environment may be derived from natural or anthropogenic sources. In humans, lead can cause a wide range of biological effects depending upon the level and duration of exposure. The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of lead exposure on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D and examine the overall effect of all these parameters on the bone mineral density of battery manufacture workers. For this study ninety battery manufacture workers were selected and divided in three groups depending upon duration of lead exposure. Group I—workers with duration of lead exposure 1–5 years, Group II—workers with duration of lead exposure 6–10 years and Group III—workers with duration of lead exposure more than 10 years. Each group consisted of thirty workers. Thirty age matched healthy control subjects were taken for comparison. Demographic, occupational and clinical data were collected by using questionnaire and interview. The venous blood samples were collected from the study groups and normal healthy control group. At the time of blood collection random urine samples were collected in amber coloured bottles. The biochemical parameters were estimated by using standard assay procedures. Statistical analysis of the data was done using independent student‘t’ test for parametric variables. Values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). P values of 0.05 or less were considered to be statistically significant. The blood lead levels and urinary lead levels of all workers were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in proportion to the duration of lead exposure as compared to controls. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly raised (P < 0.001) in all three study groups of battery manufacture workers as compared to controls. Serum Calcium, Ionized calcium, phosphorus were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in all the three study groups. Serum vitamin D levels were lowered (P < 0.01) and serum PTH was increased (P < 0.01) in workers as compared to controls. The results of this study clearly indicate that the absorption of lead is more in these workers which adversely affects blood pressure, disturbs calcium and phosphorus metabolism which further impairs mineralization of bone resulting in decreased bone mineral density observed in these workers. Lead toxicity is still persistent in battery manufacture workers though they are using sophisticated techniques in these industries. There is a need to protect the workers from the health hazards of occupational lead exposure.     

我国发展低碳经济的产业选择研究

气候变暖、环境恶化和能源危机等问题使发展低碳经济更显重要,基于完全分解模型,将我国三大产业和第二产业内各细分产业2001—2014年的能源消费变化总影响因素分解为经济因素、结构因素以及技术因素,以测度各自对总影响因素的贡献。实证结果表明,第二产业无论是经济因素、结构因素还是技术因素在三大产业中都是最显著的,而第二产业内各细分产业的结构因素均要大于技术因素。最后对如何优化产业选择提出了相应的建议。     

发展以低成本和软技术为核心的江西省绿色建筑

绿色建筑将成为未来建筑的发展趋势。针对本省经济社会发展水平,江西省现阶段应以"因地制宜"、"经济适用"、"本土科技"为原则,大力推广以低成本和软技术为核心的绿色建筑,从而推进绿色建筑的全面发展,实现节能减排的战略目标。     

Biochemical Effects of Lead Exposure on Systolic &; Diastolic Blood Pressure,Heme Biosynthesis and Hematological Parameters in Automobile Workers of North Karnataka (India)

The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of lead exposure on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heme biosynthesis related and hematological parameters of automobile workers. For this study 30 automobile workers were selected and compared with 30 age matched healthy control subjects. Significantly increased blood lead (364%, P < 0.001) and urinary lead (176%, P < 0.001) levels were observed in automobile workers (study group) as compared to controls. Systolic blood pressure (5.32%, P < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (5.87%, P < 0.05) were significantly increased in the automobile workers as compared to controls. The significantly decreased non-activated erythrocyte δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) (−18.51%, P < 0.01) and activated δ-ALAD (−13.29%, P < 0.05) levels were observed in automobile workers as compared to normal healthy control subjects. But the ratio of activated/non-activated δ-ALAD was significantly increased (43.83%, P < 0.001) in automobile workers as compared to controls. Excretions of δ-aminolevulinic acid (83.78%, P < 0.001) and porphobilinogen (37%, P < 0.001) in urine were significantly increased in the study group as compared to the controls. In automobile workers heamoglobin (−11.51%, P < 0.001), hematocrit (−4.06%, P < 0.05), mean corpuscle volume (−3.34%, P < 0.05), mean corpuscle hemoglobin (−5.66%, P < 0.01), mean corpuscle hemoglobin concentration (−7.67%, P < 0.001), red blood cell count (−14.6%, P < 0.001) were significantly decreased and total white blood cell count (11.44%, P < 0.05) increased as compared to the controls. The results of this study clearly indicate that the absorption of lead is more in automobile workers and it affects on blood pressure, heme biosynthesis and hematological parameters observed in this study group.     

浅析发展中国家政府在国际技术转移中的效用

发展中国家的政府在国际技术转移过程中一贯发挥着重要的作用,但是由于种种原因,仍然存在有效性作用不足的情形,因此需要在国际技术转移的实践中进一步提升发展中国家政府的效用。     

铅锌尾矿对环境污染的初步研究

由于铅锌尾矿长期露天放置会对环境产生危害。通过原子吸收分光光度法、原子荧光分光光度法对不同酸静态浸泡后铅锌尾矿的浸出液测定得出,盐酸对金属离子浸出影响最大。细颗粒的尾矿更易浸出,浸出时间越长,浸出的金属含量反而降低。测定了尾矿堆附近的土壤,通过与背景值和标准对照,说明尾矿堆附近土壤已经被污染。     

通货膨胀影响因素及发展趋势分析

本文分析了近期经济运行中影响通货膨胀的主要因素货币供应量、人民币汇率和外汇储备,认为我国短期内不会出现通货膨胀,但中期存在通货膨胀可能性较大,同时指明了未来时期通货膨胀的发展趋势。     

浅析学术图书馆员的角色现状与发展趋势

透过对网络环境下学术图书馆和学术图书馆员的现状分析,提出成功的学术图书馆员是具有灵活性、适应性、多学科、多技能的人才,在千变万化的信息环境和学术环境中需要侧重发展五个方面的个人能力:IT技能、管理技能、交流技巧、教学能力、个性发展。在可预见的未来学术图书馆将继续责无旁贷地履行保存和传递人类文明与学术成就的基本职能,并担负主持学术交流与合作的使命,在电子资源日益膨胀的时代,学术图书馆将通过扩展自己的业务而起到更加重要的作用。     

情报学理论发展的路径及其动力引擎探源

情报学理论的发展理应走上一条内生之路、人文之路,这条道路就生成于情报学在发展中所遭际的诸种矛盾和冲突中。体系化与问题化的冲突、情报学理论与情报实践的紧张、情报学化与非情报学化的危机,这三对矛盾紧密缠结在一起,共同干预着情报学理论发展的各个转向。它们既是情报学理论生死存亡的转换枢纽,又是其发展动力的生发之所。     

高校科技企业发展模式初探

高校发展科技企业是高等教育职能扩展与完善的必然结果,是我国实施科教兴国战略和"发展高科技,实现产业化"战略的客观要求,对促进我国经济发展和高校自身的良好发展都具有重要意义。但是,办教育和办产业是两个截然不同甚至相反的领域。鉴于高校办企业的实际困难和各种障碍,针对目前我国高校科技产业发展中存在的问题,提出今后我国高校科技企业更好发展应慎重选择的三种类型,以此作为高校科技企业的发展模式。     

当前信息服务网络的类型与发展模式研究

本文基于当前的信息服务发展状况，分析作为信息服务业务开展的基础条件——信息服务网络的形成条件与构成因素。对当前网络环境下以分布、相互独立为主要特征的各类信息服务网络及其特征进行了深入的剖析。在此基础上对未来信息服务网络的发展趋势作出大胆预测。     

基于Web教学办公系统的设计与开发

随着计算机网络、通讯技术和多媒体技术的迅速发展和广泛应用,办公自动化、无纸化办公等已成为办公方式发展的必然趋势。本文通过对教学办公系统开发与设计过程的阐述,提出了推广使用教学办公系统的必要性及目前所面临的问题。     

智力资本管理的科学定位及其发展趋势探析

作为知识经济时代的产物,智力资本管理越来越引起人们的重视。它进一步推动了对人力资源管理、知识管理厦智力资源管理等相关学科或理论的深入研究,使相关学科领域间的交叉和相互渗透程度不断增大。智力资本管理是人力资源管理适应时代发展的必然趋势,是知识管理研究领域的重要分支。同时也是智力资源管理的一部分。本文在对智力资本管理进行科学定位的基础上。探讨了智力资本管理的发展趋势。     

地方高校发展的主要问题及对策研究

地方高校承担着我国高等教育的重要责任,然而从办学综合实力看,基础条件、学术队伍、科研水平、管理水平等方面都无比较优势。为了应对日益激烈的竞争,我们必须发现并认真妥善地解决地方大学存在的主要问题,才能采取针对性的措施提高办学实力,增强吸引力。     

琼台农业合作的发展趋势研究

琼台农业合作对海南经济发展着积极的促进作用。着重分析了琼台农业合作的主要成效、存在问题及原因,并提出了进一步推进琼台农业合作的对策建议。     

论行政环境与我国电子政务发展的策略选择

电子政务,作为一种全新的行政管理模式,是将政府管理与服务建立在现代信息技术和网络技术基础上。其实现过程,是政务管理的现代化过程。政务管理是随历史的发展和环境的变化而不断变化的,正如工业文明创造了科层制的政府治理模式一样,新的社会必然要求新的政府治理形态。所以,电子政务在一国的发展,与其所处的行政环境有着直接的关系,行政环境影响和制约着一国电子政务发展的策略选择。本文通过对我国现行行政环境及其对电子政务的影响的分析,提出了我国电子政务可持续发展的策略选择。     

当前青年公务员职业发展障碍及对策研究

基于对北京市某区机关青年公务员调查数据分析,发现当前青年公务员职业发展存在五个障碍,即职业性向与工作岗位要求有偏差、个性与岗位要求有差距、工作能力和技能不足、工作需要满足程度低和晋升缓慢。这些职业发展障碍的产生源于青年公务员个人和所在组织两个方面,因此个人和组织都应采取相应的对策以消除职业发展障碍。     

城市居民低碳利益关注和低碳责任意识对低碳消费的影响——基于多群组结构方程模型的东、中、西部差异分析

在问卷调研的基础上,运用结构方程模型等方法,就城市居民低碳利益关注和低碳责任意识对低碳消费的影响进行了实证研究.结果显示:城市居民低碳利益关注和低碳责任意识显著正向影响低碳态度和低碳消费;低碳态度显著正向影响低碳消费;影响低碳态度最大的变量是低碳利益关注,影响低碳消费最大的变量是低碳责任意识;人口统计特征和区域变量在不同假设路径中的影响均存在显著差异,中部地区更为显著.