Faculty of Pharmacy/ University of Baghdad discussed the High diploma Degree thesis titled “Assessment of Health Behaviors and Length of Exposure on the Heavy Metals Level (Lead and Cadmium) and Trace Element (Zinc and Copper) among welders in Diyala Governorate.” by Mayyadah Talal Hammo and the supervisor, Lecturer Dr. Farah Kais Abdul-Wahab in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. This study aimed to assess the health behaviors and length of exposure on the heavy metals level (lead and cadmium) and trace element (zinc and copper) among welders in Diyala Governorate and compare with non exposed persons.This research which is a case-control study was accomplished in Diyala city and included 60 Iraqi males participate in this study divided into two groups the first group composed of 30 healthy men (control) and 30 Iraqi welders who have been working in welding from 5 to 30 years and in 5 to 10 work hours daily with an age range of 15-50 years. The levels of (lead and cadmium) in the blood and the levels of (copper and zinc) in the blood serum were measured and compared between the two groups, and the relationship between their levels and the impact of healthy behaviors on those levels was studied.The results of this study (lead, cadmium, and copper) concentration in workers who worked in welding process was higher than that in control which is statistically significant. A decrease in serum zinc from the normal level in all values of samples taken from welders in Diyala governorate. There were significant differences in comparison between element concentrations (lead, cadmium, and zinc) depending on duration of exposure. While the difference was not significant for copper. The correlation coefficient between Zinc and Copper was significantly negative in the control (non exposed) group; also, the correlation was significantly positive between Copper and Lead. The correlation was significantly negative between zinc and each of copper, lead, and cadmium, whereas the correlation was significantly positive between lead and cadmium.
