Epidemiological Study on the Effect of Ceramic Dust on Egyptian Worker Health, MADIHA ABDELATTY, MOHAMED EBEID and TAREK SALEM
Abstract
Background: Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the living organisms. People exposed to any type of pollution can be more at risk to some diseases than unexposed people and these diseases may be inherited due to hybridization in some genes causing a very dangerous type of pollution known as genetic pollution. A big list of common diseases is attributed to the exposure of high levels of pollution such as: Respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, throat inflammation, chest pain and congestion. The aim of the current work is to study biochemical, hematological and molecular parameters in Egyptian workers exposed to ceramic dust.
Patients and Methods: Forty male workers of the Egyptian Ceramics Industry with 40 healthy individuals with the same average age were enrolled in this study. Workers group (G2) were subdivided into two subgroups according to the duration of their exposure; (G2a) is the subgroup of workers exposed for less than 5 years, while (G2b) is the subgroup of workers exposed for more than 5 years. Samples were collected from all participants for the determination of some biochemical and haematological parameters, with the determination of immunoglobulin G (IgG), cell cycle and CD95 (FasR).
Results: Results showed significant alterations in the hematological and biochemical parameters in ceramic workers. Also, a significant increase (p<0.001) in white blood cells count, red blood cells count, lipid peroxidation level and the percentage of apoptotic marker in ceramic workers were observed. On the other hand, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione level as well as the immunoglobulin (IgG) level were significantly reduced (p<0.001) in the ceramic workers as compared to those of controls. So, ceramic dust may affect the apoptosis mechanism in the human body.
Conclusion: This study showed that ceramic workers must be considered as risky personnel as their routine activities affect many systems in their body like liver, kidney and may lead to organ damage.