Polish Journal of Environmental Studies
Vol. 15, No. 2 (2006), 229-233

Environmental Exposure to Lead Could Enhance Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress in Patients with Pollenosis

A. Dlugosz¹, J. Liebhart², D. Piotrowska¹, A. Dor², E. Liebhart², H. Gorecka³

¹Department of Toxicology, Wrocław Medical University, Traugutta 57/59, 50-417 Wrocław, Poland
²Katedra i Klinika Chorób Wewnętrznych i Alergologii, Wrocław Medical University
³Instytut Technologii Nieorganicznej i Nawozów Mineralnych Politechniki Wrocławskiej

Abstract: The parameters of oxidative stress (MDA, SOD, GPx, H₂O₂, GSH) and metals concentration were measured on a pollen-allergic sample (64 people) and the correlation between parameters were examined. There were no differences in parameters between pollenotics and control (35 people) except for the level of reduced glutathione which was statistically significant lower at pollenotics. There were no differences in the level of metals in blood or hair. The statistically significant correlation between Pb and SOD (r = 0.74 p = 0.000) at pollenotics suggests that environmental exposure to lead could stimulate the intensity of hay fever symptoms connected with free radicals processes.

Keywords: environmental pollution, oxidative stress, pollen allergy, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), total peroxides, lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) .