The periodontal status of indirectly lead-exposed apprentices working in autorepair workshops

The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal health status of lead-exposed apprentices and to search the correlation between clinical periodontal parameters and either blood lead or oxidative stress/damage indices in erythrocytes. Sixty male subjects were recruited for this study (30 apprentices and 30 controls). The periodontal health status was determined with gingival index, plaque index, gingival bleeding time index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level records. Additionally, blood lead level and indices of oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase), catalase activities and damage (malondialdehyde concentration) in erythrocytes were determined. The results showed that lead level was significantly higher in apprentices than in controls (P < 0.05). None of the clinical periodontal parameters and oxidative stress/damage indices were significantly different between the groups (P > 0.05). Significant correlation between plaque index and catalase, probing depth and superoxide dismutase, clinical attachment level and superoxide dismutase, and clinical attachment level and malondialdehyde in apprentices group (P < 0.05), and gingival bleeding time index and glutathione peroxidase in control group were found (P < 0.05). In multiple regression analysis, there were statistically significant associations between gingival index and working status, family income and either probing depth or clinical attachment level (P < 0.05). The results of this study showed significant association between the clinical periodontal parameters and oxidative stress/damage indices in apprentices indirectly exposed to low levels of lead.