Effects of exposure duration to liquefied propane on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in gas workers

Toxic environmental agents include a host of chemicals and pollutants that may available in tobacco smoke and tar, the atmosphere, drugs, the work place, the food and water supply and from radiation and infectious organisms. These agents may exert multiple types of harmful effects on human body, including lipid peroxidation. To assess the effects of duration of exposure on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in liquefied propane gas workers. Fifty five adult male gas workers [age mean 36. 6 +/- 3.8 years] in liquefied propane gas stations in the District of Baghdad were enrolled in the present study. They were allocated into 3 groups according to the duration of exposure to LPG [1-9, 10-20 and more than 20 years]. Twenty five healthy subjects, not exposed to LPG, with age mean comparable to that of workers [37.2 +/- 4.0 years] were utilized as controls. The results showed significant differences in the levels of MetHb, lipid peroxidation parameters and antioxidant enzymes activities in LPG workers compared to controls. Meanwhile, workers with different duration of exposure to LPG demonstrated significant differences only in MetHb, MDA and catalase activity. Workers with different duration of exposure to LPG demonstrated significant differences only in MetHb, MDA and catalase activity. In conclusion, the changes in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes may be useful as indicator for the impact of duration of exposure in LPG workers

Effect of some environmental conditions on the oxidative stress and transition metals status in Iraqi subjects

It has long been recognized that exposure to various metals is highly toxic, producing a wide variety of illnesses, including cancer. 111e role of these metals in free radical formation and initiation of lipid peroxidation was extensively studied; where the free form of iron or copper can effectively be involved in a free radical generation. To evaluate the effects of the some environmental conditions on the levels of the oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde [MDA] and glutathione [GSH], and some of the transition metals, iron, copper and zinc, in the serum of Iraqi subjects who exposed to different environmental conditions. Blood samples were taken from 137 healthy male adults who work in different types of jobs [25 farmers, 25 workers in gasoline, 25 workers in liquid propane gas, 25 workers in casting, 25 workers in paints and 12 workers in plastic and rubber materials]. The serum levels of MDA, GSH, iron copper and zinc were estimated and compared in different groups. The result showed that exposure of healthy subjects to different occupational hazards produces significantly different changes in the oxidative stress markers as revealed by excessive production of the lipid peroxidation end product [MDA] and depletion of the soluble antioxidant [GSH]; and impairment of the trace element status [copper and zinc]. The extracellular defense mechanisms were severely affected by the insults of oxidative stress processes due to environmental pollution in some work places in Iraq