Background: Among the different occupational hazards to which cotton industry workers are exposed such as accidents, fire, disabilities, noise and heat, of all, the largest health hazard is due to inhalation of cotton dust. Prolonged cotton dust inhalation causes various known diseases in textile industry such as byssinosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These disorders seems at least partly, be mediated by oxidative stress and altered immune system. Objective: To assess oxidative stress and immunoglobulin levels (IgG & IgM) in workers exposed to cotton dust. Setting: This study was conducted in Misr Helwan Industry for Spinning and Weaving on cotton dust exposed workers in the spinning department. Subjects and methods: Forty two workers exposed to cotton dust were included in this study together with 30 non exposed apparently healthy subjects taken as controls. Every participant of this study was subjected to occupational history taking, detailed questionnaire, thorough clinical examination, assessment of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant status, and measuring of immunoglobulin levels (IgM & IgG). Both groups were matched as regards age, sex, smoking habit, duration of employment and socioeconomic status. Results: The levels of oxidants biomarkers (nitric oxide and MDA) were significantly elevated, and antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, SOD and total antioxidant) were significantly decreased in exposed workers compared with the controls. Statistically significant increase in the immunoglobulin levels was observed in cotton exposed workers (vs. controls). No significant difference was found in oxidant / antioxidant status and immunoglobulin levels between exposed smokers and exposed non-smokers. Smoker exposed workers showed statistically significant elevation in their levels of oxidant biomarkers (MDA & nitric oxide) and immunoglobulin M when compared to those in controls. Age and duration of employment in exposed workers were significantly negatively correlated with total antioxidant status while no significant correlation was found with other antioxidants nor with oxidant parameters. Conclusion: Workers exposed to cotton dust were under great oxidative stress as manifested by a rise in oxidant biomarkers and a reduction in antioxidants. Cotton dust stimulates humoral immunity as detected by the increases in the immunoglobulin levels. Smoking may have synergistic effect with cotton dust in induction of oxidative stress. These bio-functional markers might be useful in screening and surveillance for occupational hazard.
Introduction: Exposure to high levels of copper at the workplace results in many adverse health effects with possible genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Aim of work: To evaluate oxidative stress and detect the extent of DNA damage among workers at a copper processing factory. Materials and methods: The studied group is composed of 36 male workers from a copper processing factory and 34 male as a control group nonexposed to copper matched for age and socioeconomic status. Total antioxidant capacity was measured for all participants as an oxidative stress parameter, and urinary 8-OHdG was assayed by ELISA. Extent of DNA damage in leucocytes was also evaluated by comet assay as a biomarker of genotoxicity. Results: In the exposed workers, mean serum copper and urinary 8-OHdG were higher when compared to controls (155.1 ± 23 versus 77.9 ± 8.5 ug/dL and 9.7 ± 5 versus 4.1 ± 1.2 ng/mg creatinine, respectively; p<0.001 in each). T-AOC measured in exposed workers was significantly lower than that of the comparison group. There was significant DNA damage in leucocytes of exposed workers compared to the control group with mean comet tail length (9.5 ± 3.7 versus 5.7 ±1.4 mm; p < 0.001). T-AOC was negatively correlated with comet tail length; r=-0.64 and 8-OHdG showed positive correlation; r=0.71 (p < 0.001 for each). Linear regression models revealed that 8-OHdG is the significant predictor of DNA damage assayed by comet test whereas smoking, work duration and age had no significant effect on DNA damage. Conclusion: copper-exposed workers are at risk of oxidative stress with consequent DNA damage and potential genotoxic effect.
The lack of knowledge about the earliest events in occupational disease development is due to the multi-factorial nature of disease risk. This information gap is the consequence of the lack of appreciation for the fact that most occupational diseases arise from the complex interactions between genes and the occupational exposure. Whether an occupational exposure causes illness or not is dependent on the efficiency of metabolic pathways. Thus, elucidating the causes of most chronic diseases will require an understanding of both the genetic and occupational contribution to their etiology. Unfortunately, the exploration of the relationship between genes and the occupational exposure has been hampered in the past by the limited knowledge of the human genome, and by the inclination of scientists to study disease development using experimental models that consider exposure to a single environmental agent in the workplace. To understand how genes and occupational agents interact to initiate biological pathways to cause injury or disease, scientists will need tools with the capacity to monitor the global expression of thousands of genes, proteins and metabolites simultaneously. The generation of such data in multiple species can be used to identify conserved and functionally significant genes and pathways involved in gene environment interactions. The complex interplay between genes and occupational exposure represents also a great challenge to scientists, and it is also an important opportunity to reduce the burden of disease and dysfunctions on humans. Major technological advances in the last few years have increased our knowledge of the role that genetics has in occupational diseases and our understanding of genetic components and the interaction between genetics and environmental factors. The complex interplay between genes and occupational exposure represents also a great challenge to scientists, and it is also an important opportunity to reduce the burden of disease and dysfunctions on humans.
Introduction: Exposure to naphthalene is associated with many toxic effects in humans and laboratory animals. Aim of work: To assess the clinical and laboratory changes among workers occupationally exposed to naphthalene during manufacturing of naphthalene balls. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on fifty workers in naphthalene balls manufacturing factory. They were compared with fifty nonexposed individuals. Full history was taken and clinical examination was performed. Complete blood picture, reticulocyte count and G6PD activity, urinary naphthalene, albumin and α1 microglobulin in urine were measured in both groups. Environmental assessment of naphthalene in air at workplace was done. Results: The level of urinary (1-and 2-naphthol), urinary albumin and urinary α 1-microgloblin were significantly higher (p< 0.001) among the exposed group compared to the control one. Hemoglobin levels and hematocrit percentage were significantly decreased (p< 0.001) among the exposed group compared to the control. A statistically significant positive correlations among exposed workers were found between the level of urinary (1-and 2-napthanol) and each of duration of employment, urinary albumin and α 1-microgloblin. There were a statistically significant negative correlation between urinary (1 and 2-napthanol) and hemoglobin level. The geometric means of the measurement of naphthalene at workplace were 100 mg/m 3 which exceeded the occupational exposure limits according to Egyptian Environmental law (50 mg/m 3). Conclusion: Occupational exposure to naphthalene leads to increased risk of health hazards with possible renal and hematological impairment. Therefore environmental control measures and good work practices are recommended at the workplace.
introduction: Exposure to chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) is prevalent at workplace. Although they are toxic, human studies on their effect on the reproductive system are few and contradictory. aim of work: To evaluate the association of male reproductive hormone levels with the concentrations of blood chromium and nickel among electroplaters in a factory for metallic industries in Egypt. materials and methods: A cross sectional comparative study was conducted on 48 electroplating workers and 48 non-occupationally exposed subjects used as controls. Personal interview with specially designed questionnaire were fulfilled. Blood nickel and chromium concentrations were determined and the reproductive hormones levels [follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and inhibin] were assayed for all participants. Results: The study showed a statistically significant high levels of the mean values of blood Cr and Ni among electroplating workers compared to the control group (1.2±0.93 and 1.3±1.02 µg/L vs 0.4±0.1 and 0.39±0.2 µg/L respectively; p<0.001). Also, a statistically significant high levels of FSH and LH were detected among exposed workers (5.19±2.08 mIU/L and 6.85± 2.67 IU/L respectively) compared to controls (1.95±0.7 mIU/L and 3.97± 0.85 IU/L respectively) with low levels of testosterone and inhibin. Significant positive correlations (p<0.05) were found between FSH level and heavy metals (Cr and Ni) levels (r=0.28 and r=0.63; p=0.05 and p<0.002 respectively). Conversely, significantly negative correlations were detected as regards testosterone level (r=-.323 for chromium and r=-.571 for nickel; p<0.05 for each). Blood nickel was found to be a significant predictor for FSH and testosterone level, and smoking index was predictor for all measured reproductive hormones among exposed electroplaters. conclusion: Exposure to high levels of Cr and Ni might affect reproductive hormones levels among male electroplating workers. Regular wearing of good quality's personal protective equipment, especially masks and gloves, to decrease exposure to electroplating fumes, is highly recommended.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.