Abstract

Plasma porphyrin levels were determined in a group of 50 workers exposed to lead. The mean value obtained (0·7 μg./100 ml.) was found to be higher than that obtained from a control group (0·2 μg./100 ml.). Although urinary porphyrin levels in the lead workers were also higher than in the control group, no correlation was found between plasma porphyrin levels and urinary porphyrin levels.

Chromatography of the plasma porphyrins from lead workers showed that some protoporphyrin was present in addition to the coproporphyrin found in plasma from the control group.