Arginase and kallikrein activities as biochemical indices of occupational exposure to lead.

In a group of 60 workers occupationally exposed to lead the blood and urine lead concentrations, haematocrit, ALA-D and arginase activities, and urinary 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin concentrations, and kallikrein activity were determined. Correlation coefficients of -0.78 and 0.77 for Pb-B/ALA and Pb-B/arginase were found respectively for lead concentrations above 40 microgram/dl blood, and 0.83, 0.76, 0.74, and -0.64 for Pb-U/ALA, Pb-U/Cp-U, Pb-U/kallikrein, and Pb.U/kallikrein, respectively. It seems that the increase in serum arginase activity may be indicative of liver damage while the decrease in kallikrein activity may indicate kidney damage in workers exposed to lead.