Ceruloplasmin as a marker of occupational copper exposure

Estimation of serum copper to indicate copper status in the human system in the context of moderate chronic occupational copper exposure requires a sophisticated and expensive method. Hence, a search for a suitable marker has been made and few studies have found potential in serum ceruloplasmin. In this context, the present study was initiated to explore whether ceruloplasmin could serve as a predictor of occupational copper exposure. An interviewer-administered questionnaire survey (personal, occupational and health-related information) was undertaken involving 185 employees of a copper handling industry. Serum alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum ceruloplasmin and serum copper were estimated in all the subjects. Multivariate analysis was undertaken using a linear regression model to understand the contribution of serum copper on serum ceruloplasmin values adjusting for the role of other confounders. Serum copper and serum ceruloplasmin values were found to have a statistically significant positive correlation (R=0.169, adjusted R(2)=0.024) after adjustment for other predictors like age, nature of job (department), job duration, smoking, serum alkaline phosphatase and SGPT. This study concludes that the serum ceruloplasmin level can act as a reliable indicator of copper status in the human body following copper exposure in cases of chronic moderate occupational exposure to copper.