Effects of occupational exposure to methoxypsoralens [meladenin] in pharmaceutical industry

Methoxypsoralens [Meladenin] are the active ingredients of Ammi Majus Lina plant. These compounds increase the capacity of the skin to tan. Occupational exposure to such compounds occurs among workers during the extraction and manufacture of such materials. Forty workers involved in such industry were subjected to medical history taking, complete medical examination and full dermatological assessment. Results showed that workers complained from one or more symptom. The main manifestations were skin hyperpigmentation of the exposed areas [97.5%] and pruritus [47.5%], while in the control group the figures were 0% and 6.7% respectively. Chest symptoms and signs were also prevalent among exposed workers. Psoralens cause skin to be hypersensitive to light [photosensitivity] and hyperpigmentation is the result of exposure to vapour or dust of such materials which act most probably, topically on the skin. No case of skin cancer was seen among such group which may draw the attention to the possibility of the proactive effect of psoralens against ultra-violet induced carcinogenesis. The increased incidence of chest signs and symptoms may be due to exposure to dust or fumes during the different processes of manufacture of meladenin. The question whether this occupatinal hyperpigmentation is to be compensated or not has to be raised. Recommendations were given

Neuropsychiatric and haematologic manifestations in workers occupationally exposed to lead [Pb], mercury [Hg] and trinitrotoluene [TNT]

One hundred and four exposed workers to Pb, Hg and TNT in explosives industry and fifty non-exposed workers were subjected to this study. Environmental analysis for the level of atmospheric Pb concentration in workplace is double [280 ug/m] the TWA level. The Pb-B level of exposed workers ranged between 30.2 to 74.6 ug% [mean 43.14 +/- 10.14] and for the nonexposed between 15 to 35.5 ug% [mean 22.51 +/- 7.19]. More than 3/4 [78.8%] of exposed workers presented with more than one neuropsychiatric symptom in comparison to 16% among the non-exposed group. Numbness [60.5%], impotence [45.1%], muscle weakness [36.5%] and headache [15.4%] were the main symptoms of exposed workers. Neuropsychiatric signs were manifested among 71.2% of exposed and 10% among non-exposed workers. The main signs were peripheral neuritis, muscle weakness and mental changes. EEG tracing and fundus examination were normal for exposed and non-exposed workers. Haemoglobin concentration and RBCs and WBCs counts were significantly decreased among exposed workers