Determination of some antioxidant enzymes in serum of electroplating workers

ABSTRACT

Electroplating process has wide range of applications. Inhalation of metal vapors as zinc, iron and uses of cyanide in electrolytic degreasing baths can cause injury to several internal organs of the body. The present study included 25 exposed subjects during zinc electroplating process and 20 control subjects. The level of zinc was significantly increased and the level of iron was significantly decreased among exposed subjects than the control, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and catalase were found to be reduced among exposed workers in electroplating process than control subjects, and no significant differences were found in glutathione reductase activity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the activity of blood antioxidant enzymes which may be used as markers of exposure for zinc electroplating