RESUMEN
Objective: To assess the effects of occupational dust exposure on the antioxidant defense system of Portland cement workers in Egypt
Patients and Methods: Eighty six workers individually males [mean age 41.5 years], were chosen from different three areas of Beni-Sweif cement factory i.e. oven, packing and administration office divisions. All of subjects were nonsmokers and had occupational exposure to cement dust ranged 7-18 years. Control subjects, 23 males [mean age 42.5 years] were chosen among population who lived in the countryside areas of Beni-Sweif governorate, working in the agricultural activities and nonsmokers. Plasma levels of GSH Px, GSH-Rd. SOD, catalase enzymes, plasma selenium as well as plasma vitamins A. C and E were determined in all cases
Results: A significant drecreases [p<0.05] in antioxidant enzymes activities, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd, SOD and CAT were observed in human erythrocytes after long occupational cement exposure. As compared with the control group, the rate of reducing of these enzymes activities were ranged from 6.12- 28.88, 2.01-14.32, 9.86-26.63, 7.84-18.88 %, respectively and directly proportional with the cement dust exposure level. Plasma GSH/GSSG ratio, which provide a sensitive index of whole body oxidative stress, was significantly decreased in cement factory workers in oven, packing, administration departments [9.63+/-2.01. 9.7+/-1.07, 11.57+/-1.18] respectively compared with that of control subjects [13.17+/-7.35]. The reduction in antioxidant enzymes defense potential of erythrocytes was concomitant with significant decrease [p<0.05] of antioxidant vitamin plasma levels A, C and E. plasma vitamin A showed the highest decrease, [22.12%] followed by plasma vitamins C and E [14.86 and 8.45%], respectively
Conclusion: Both enzymatic antioxidant defense system of erythrocytes and plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins were decreased due to occupational exposure to cement dust indicating oxidative stress