Serum immunoglobulin and gonadal hormone levels of male welders

Objective  To observe the adverse effect of occupational manganese exposure on humoral immunity and sex hormone of welders.

Methods  Totally 96 male Welders and 96 workers without any exposure to occupational hazards were studied. The immunoglobulin(IgA, IgM and IgG) were measured with automatic biochemistry instrument. The urinary Mn was measured with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum luteinizing hormone(LH), follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), testosterone(T), progesterone(P), estradiol(E2) and prolactin(PRL)were measured by radioimmuno assay.

Results  The urinary manganese level of welders was (1.59 ±0.67)μg/L, which was significantly higher than that(0.45 ±0.08) μg/Lof non-exposed workers(P < 0.01). The serum levels of IgG, T and P of welders were lower than those of non-exposed workers, while FSH of welders was higher(P < 0.01 or 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient showed that serum levels of IgM, FSH and PRL were positively correlated with the urinary Mn level, respectively (r=0.220, 0.487, 0.250, P < 0.01). It showed that serum level of IgA was negatively correlated with T(r=-0.271, P < 0.01), and IgM was positively correlated with E2(r=0.209, P < 0.01).

Conclusion The welding increases manganese exposure and furthermore may affect the immunity and endocrine system of welders.