Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to electrophilic compounds. 1994

R M el Gazzar, and H Abdel Hamid, and M Y Shamy
High Institute of Public Health, Occupational Health Department, Hadara, Alexandria, Egypt.

Electrophilic compounds are widely used in industry. Plastic and dyeing industries are foremost examples of sites where workers are exposed to electrophilic compounds. Besides their immediate effect on different body systems, electrophilic compounds include most mutagenic and carcinogenic substances. The present study was carried out to elucidate the possibility of using nonselective assays in the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to electrophilic compounds. The study included a total number of 225 workers selected from the Plastic and Battery Company where workers are exposed to styrene (n = 70), and the Kafr El Dawar chemical and Dyeing Company where workers are exposed to aniline (n = 60) and benzidine (n = 25). Workers exposed to diesel engine exhaust were selected from a bus garage in Smoha (n = 70). A comparison group consisting of 141 subjects was selected from the administrative departments of the selected factories. The biochemical tests carried out on each subject included: (1) estimation of the biological indices of exposure: urinary mandelic acid and benzidine, blood methemoglobin, and carboxyhemoglobin, (2) liver and kidney function tests; and (3) nonselective biochemical parameters of early detection of carcinogenic and mutagenic risk: urinary thioether levels, urinary RNase and alpha esterase activities. The study revealed that two out of three nonselective assays have been affected by occupational exposure to electrophilic compounds. These were the urinary thioethers and RNase levels. Their determination is recommended in the biological monitoring of workers exposed to such agents especially in developing countries.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007677 Kidney Function Tests Laboratory tests used to evaluate how well the kidneys are working through examination of blood and urine. Function Test, Kidney,Function Tests, Kidney,Kidney Function Test,Test, Kidney Function,Tests, Kidney Function
D008111 Liver Function Tests Blood tests that are used to evaluate how well a patient's liver is working and also to help diagnose liver conditions. Function Test, Liver,Function Tests, Liver,Liver Function Test,Test, Liver Function,Tests, Liver Function
D008297 Male Males
D008333 Mandelic Acids Analogs or derivatives of mandelic acid (alpha-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid). Acids, Mandelic
D008706 Methemoglobin Ferrihemoglobin
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002263 Carboxyhemoglobin Carbomonoxyhemoglobin,Carbonmonoxyhemoglobin,Carbonylhemoglobin,Carboxyhemoglobin A,Carboxyhemoglobin C
D002265 Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases Enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of carboxylic acid esters with the formation of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid anion. Carboxylesterases,Ester Hydrolases, Carboxylic,Hydrolases, Carboxylic Ester
D002274 Carcinogens, Environmental Carcinogenic substances that are found in the environment. Environmental Carcinogens
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental

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