Serum amino acid metabolome alteration associated with urinary metal profiles among solar greenhouse workers: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

Chronic multi-metal exposure in solar greenhouse workers is linked to significant alterations in serum amino acid profiles, with a notable negative joint effect on six amino acids.

• Why it matters: Understanding how complex metal mixtures affect amino acid metabolism is crucial for assessing occupational health risks, yet this interaction remains under-investigated.
• What they did: The study analyzed urinary concentrations of 14 metals and serum levels of ten amino acids in 284 Chinese greenhouse workers, using ICP-MS, HPLC, multivariable linear regression, and BKMR to evaluate associations and joint effects.
• The result: Findings show metal exposure disrupts amino acid metabolism, with the overall metal mixture exerting a significant negative effect on six amino acids when metals are at or above the 60th percentile, suggesting amino acid profiling as a sensitive biomarker for metal toxicity.