Assessment of antisperm antibody in sera of mercury and lead exposed workers

Occupational exposure to lead or mercury was found to make protein better antigens. The production of autoantibodies to nervous system protein is one example of such effect. The present study aims to detect the possibility of induction of antisperm autoantibodies due to occupational exposure to lead or mercury. Male workers exposed to lead [n=50] or to mercury [n=39] were selected for this purpose and compared to a matched control group [n=39]. A negative control consisting of 17 females was also included. All subjects had two or more children. Blood samples were collected and the ELISA technique was applied to detect antisperm antibodies. Also, the levels of lead in blood and mercury in urine were determined as biological indices of exposure. Antisperm antibodies were detected in 90% of workers exposed to lead with the predominance of the IgG type and 84.6% of workers exposed to mercury with the predominance of the IgM type. Although the results did not correlate with the biological indices of exposure, it seems advisable to use the detection of sperm antibodies of sera of workers exposed to metals as a biological monitoring tool

Study of some biochemical changes among workers occupationally exposed to phenol, alone or in combination with other organic solvents

Organic solvents have wide range of applications. Inhalation of organic solvents can cause injury to several internal organs of the body. The risk of injury depends on the concentration of the substance in the respirable air and on the duration of exposure. Studying the effects of multiple chemical exposure is a relatively unexplored area of occupational health. An exact occupational appraisal of phenol toxicity in man is difficult because it is usually found in mixtures with organic solvents. Such combinations may result in different health and biochemical effects. The present study included 20 workers exposed to phenol alone and 32 workers exposed to phenol, toluene, benzene and MEK. A comparison group of 30 subjects was also included. All subjects were submitted to blood and urine analysis. The effects of combined exposure did not differ that of exposure to phenol alone concerning hematological investigations, liver and kidney functions. Combined exposure, however, affected the levels of some trace elements in serum probably in a additive way. More attention should be paid to the health effects of combined chemical exposure

Effects of nickel sulfate alone and with ultraviolet light on micronuclei frequency in cultured human lymphocytes

Comutagenic or cocarcinogenic activities have been reported between nickel compounds and UV light. The presence of micronuclei in a binucleated lymphocyte is regarded as. an alternative to classical cytogenic methods for monitoring chromosomal damage. The present study aimed to detect this comutagenicity as regards micronuclei induction. Human peripheral lymphocytes were treated with different concentrations of nickel sulfate and/or with UV light at 200 and 1000 ergs/mm[2]. Cells have been cultured and 100 binucleated cells were counted and the micronuclei frequency recorded. The observed values, for all concentrations of nickel sulfate combined with UV were less than expected for an additive response of two agents computed as the combined increase over the values of the control for the metal and UV alone. Caution is advised when interpreting cytogenic values in multiple exposures

Impact of blood groups on the biochemical response to some occupational pollutants

The present study was carried out. aiming to investigate the role of the ABO blood group distribution on some biochemical changes among workers exposed to occupational toxicants. For this purpose, a total number of 118 workers exposed to CS[2] and 89 workers exposed to Pb were selected. A comparison group was also included [n=100]. Fasting blood samples were collected and the levels of FBS,GGT, ALP, creatinine, total lipids, TG, Ch, Ph, LDL, VLDL, HDL, bleeding time, clotting time and prothrombin time were determined. Also, from spot urine samples, the levels of ALAU and the I[2] N[3] test were assessed. By comparing the results among the different blood groups, it was found that some biochemical changes are blood group dependent. Individual! of blood group Bhad the more pronounced atherogenic effect of both CS[2] and Pb exposure than others. Therefore, the present study supports the hypothesis of the role of blood group specificity in biological responses to toxic agents

Study of impact of occupational exposure to some organic solvents in blood lipids

Organic solvents are of wide use in industry. They have been accused to affect the cardiovascular system through their effect on lipid metabolism. The present study has beat carried out in a petroleum refining company. Workers were t exposed to phenol, toluene, benzol and methyl ethyl ketone. A total number of 106 exposed workers and 30 control subjects were submitted to blood and urine analysis. Blood analysis included total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Urine analysis included the measurement of the biological indices of exposure: phenol, methyl ethyl ketone and hippuric acid. The study revealed a significant increase in the levels of some blood lipids among exposed workers regardless the types of organic solvents they were exposed to. control of these adverse effects has been recommended

Micronuclei as quantitative indicators of chromosomal aberrations among workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation

The present study was conducted to compare the evaluation of radiation damage by two biodosimetric methods [chromosome aberration analysis and micronucleus determination] in cytochalasin B induced binucleated lymphocytes. Blood samples of a healthy adult were irradiated by different doses of X and gamma rays. A positive statistically significant correlation has been obtained between the incidence of chromosome aberrations, micronuclei frequencies and the doses of radiation. Also, these two methods have been used to quantify radiation damage in circulating lymphocytes of humans occupationally exposed to tritium. The micronuclei analysis confirmed the results of chromosome dosimetry even at low dose ranges

Hematological changes among workers of combined chemical exposure

The present study had been conducted in two plants, the first was manufacturing artificial fibers and the second plant was manufacturing lead batteries, both located in Alexandria and its surroundings. The objective of this study is to elucidate the effect of combined exposure to Cs [2]and pb on some hematological parameters of exposed workers. Examined subjects included: rayon spinners [n=118], spinning tank welders [n=90] and workers of lead batteries [n=88], and a control group [n=91]. Each worker [and control subject] was intereviewed for his personal, occupational, past and present histories with special emphasis on liver, blood disease, parasitic infections and drug intake. This was followed by through clinical examination. Fasting blood samples were collected from hematological investigations and for determination of lead in blood; spot urine samples were collected both before and after shift for the evaluation of Cs[2] metabolites by the modified iodine azide test. The present study revealed that combined exposure to Cs[2] and pb yielded the following types of effects: additive for RBCs, WBCs and MCHC; antagonistic for hemoglobin, eosinophils and bleeding time and independent for the rest of the hematological parameters. It can be concluded that when CS[2] and pb are combined, they behave in a different manner from that they do separately; however, further investigations are needed to clarify the mechanism of such interaction.

Study of impact of occupational exposure to pesticides among bilharzial infected workers

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pesticides exposure on some biochemical parameters and health changes among bilharzia infected workers. This work included 305 workers exposed to pesticides in a pesticides manufacturing plant, 117 of whom were bilharziatic and 52 control subjects 19 of whom were bilharziatic and 52 control subjects 19 of whom were bilharziatic. Each subject was interviewed for his personal, occupational medical histories and history of bilharziasis. Fasting blood samples were collected for the assessment of some liver function tests as SGOT, SGPT and GGT; some blood constituents as fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol and urea; hematological examination and cholinesterase activity determination. Bilharziasis, when accompanied by pesticides exposure led to decrease in cholinesterase activity, increase in GGT activity, decrease in fasting blood sugar levels, decrease in cholesterol levels together with an inverse in the prevalence of health disorders. Most of these effects have been attributed to liver disturbances. It has been concluded that the combined effect of pesticides exposure and bilharzia infection seems to be of the additive type of synergism, and more attention must be paid to the liver functions of such workers

Changes of lipid metabolism among bilharziatic workers occupationally exposed to carbon disulfide

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of bilharzia infection on the lipid metabolism among workers exposed to E/ +E/ +E/ +E/ +E/ +CS2. This work included 118 workers exposed to CS2 in Misr Rayon Manufacturing Company, Kafr El-Dawar, 84 of whom were bilharziatic and 91 controls. 46 of whom were bilharziatic. Each subject has been interviewed for his personal, occupational and medical history and history of bilharziasis. Determination of CS2 concentrations in air has been carried out in different departments of the plant. Fasting blood samples were obtained for assessment of fasting blood sugar, GGT activity and serum creatinine levels, the lipid profile including total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids, the cholesterol and phospholipid content of HDL and LDL and the lipoprotein pattern including the levels of LDL, VLDL and HDL. Bilharziasis, when accompanied by CS2 exposure led to increased GGT activity, cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, LDL and LDLPh levels with decreased HLD and HDLCh levels. These effects were fond to be of the potentiative type of synergism and has been attributed to liver damage. It has been recommended to introduce the assessment of lipid metabolism in the periodic medical examination of these workers

Copper metabolism and its relation to neurotoxic manifestations among workers manufacturing viscose fibers

Copper is one of the essential trace elements and is involved in several enzymes of key importance in metabolism. Moreover, it plays a critical function in maintaining the integrity of the central nervous system. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of CS[2] exposure on copper metabolism and its reflection on the functions of the nervous system among spinners in a factory manufacturing viscose fibres. The study comprised 80 spinners and 30 control subjects. Each was interviewed for his personal and occupational histories, history of neuropsychological complaints and medical examination of the nervous system. Fasting blood samples were collected for the determination of serum copper, serum ceruloplasmin, SOD and MAO activities, Spot urine samples were also collected for the biological assessment of CS[2] exposure by the iodine azide test. The study revealed significant higher prevalence of neuropsychological complaints, tremors, peripheral neuropathy, decrease in serum copper levels, enhancement of SOD activity and inhibition of MAO among exposed workers when compared to controls. These findings confirm the involvement of copper metabolism disturbances in the onset of the neurotoxic manifestations caused by CS[2] exposure