Abstract
Investigation is being conducted of the effect of urban blood lead levels on the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in the red cells (rbc) of enzyme deficient negroes. Blood lead was determined in 202 students, age 6 to 17, suggested as deficient by initial mass screening with two or three serial assays including G6PD, 6 PGD, red cell indices and reticulocytes plus sampling for GSH reductase, ATPase, ALA dehydratase, and haptoglobins. Significant findings include: (1) G6PD deficient (0–4 μM) negroes had a significantly higher concentration of lead in both rbc and whole blood when corrected for anemia, as compared with nondeficient individuals of comparable age, sex, socioeconomic score, and census tract. This is the first demonstration of a genetic susceptibility to an air pollutant. (2) Whole blood lead, corrected for anemia is preferred to red cell lead since intracellular accumulation of lead progresses rapidly in vitro. (3) Evidence of the direct effect of ambient lead on blood lead is derived from the significantly higher blood lead in elementary school children in central Omaha which has industrial as well as automobile sources of lead emission than in comparable students just three miles away; seasonal correlation with air lead levels at the sites is expected to be available.
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Angle, C., McIntire, M. & Gibbs, G. Air and blood lead and the G6PD deficient. Pediatr Res 5, 375–376 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00021