Blood Trace Element Levels in Tobacco Smokers - ระดับธาตุที่จำเป็นในเลือดคนสูบบุหรี่

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine serum zinc, serum copper, blood manganese and blood chromium levels in 180 non-smokers compared with 180 smokers with the flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The study was done from October 2004 to September 2005. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test and F-test. It was found that the average concentrations of serum zinc, blood manganese and blood chromium in smokers and non-smokers were not significantly different. The mean levels of serum copper in smokers and non-smokers were 104.52 ± 32.47 and 93.45 ± 24.15 micrograms/decilitre respectively and were significantly different (p<0.05). In the study, the period of smoking was classified into 1-10, 11-20, 21-30 and more than 30 years. It was found that the average serum copper levels in smokers smoking for such periods were 106.72 ± 35.06, 102.39 ± 27.22, 89.33 ± 16.57 and 96.60 micrograms/decilitre respectively and the differences of the copper levels of each period were significant (p<0.05). By classifying the number of cigarettes smoked per day into 1-10, 11-20, 21-30 and more than 30 cigarettes, the mean serum copper levels were 105.49 ± 32.76, 102.12 ± 31.62, 77.67 ± 2.66 and 137.45 ± 30.98 micrograms/decilitre respectively, and were significantly different (p<0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked are related only to serum copper level.