Full Length Research Paper

Mixed chemical-induced oxidative stress in occupational exposure in Nigerians

Anetor, J. I.¹, Yaqub, S. A.¹,  Anetor, G. O.², Nsonwu, A. C.³,  Adeniyi, F. A. A¹

and Fukushima, S⁴

¹Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Department Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

³Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

⁴Japan Bioassay Research Center, Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association, 2445 Hirasawa Hadano Kanagawa 257-0015, Japan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: anetorji@yahoo.com.

Accepted 15 December, 2008

Exposure to single chemicals and associated disorders in occupational environments has received significant attention. Understanding these events holds great promise for risk identification, assessment and chemical induced disease prevention. Fifty (50) fasting male workers, age range 18-50 years exposed to chemical mixtures in a works department, mean duration 17.7±10.1 years and 30 controls matched for age, diet, sex and other demographic characteristics except exposure to chemicals were selected. Body mass index (BMI), antioxidant status and other biochemical indices including plasma proteins (total protein) and subsets, albumin and total globulins were determined in plasma. The BMI was similar between chemical workers (exposed) and controls (p>0.05). Uric acid level was significantly higher in the exposed than in the controls (p<0.01) probably in part up regulation to combat oxidative stress. Uric acid was also significantly positively correlated with BMI (r=0.46, p<0.01), probably to match the body chemical burden. Ascorbate was in contrast significantly lower in chemical workers than in controls (p<0.001), reduced by 91% level in controls. Border line inverse correlations between ascorbate, BMI and duration of exposure were evident. Copper (Cu) level, though slightly raised in chemical workers than in controls was not significant (p>0.05). Plasma proteins were significantly lower in chemical workers than in controls (p<0.001). Total globulins was significantly reduced in chemical workers (p<0.01). Other variables did not differ significantly. These data are consistent with the existence of oxidative stress in these chemical workers.

Key words: Chemical mixtures, occupational exposure, oxidative stress.