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Effects of Occupational Hazards on Workers in Electroplating Factories
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Abstract: This environmental study is carried out to elucidiate some of the most important effects of occupational exposure to lead, zinc and cadmium on workers in certain industries with special emphasis on hepatotoxicity as the liver is the most serious by damaged organ as it is reported that lead is a direct hepatotoxic agent that damages the liver directly, causing a distructlve effect in membranes of hepatocytes and consequently an interference with cell metabolism.
The lung, skin and gastrointestinal tract are the major routes of exposure for toxic agents. The lung is the most important route of exposure and the most often damaged organ by toxic agents associated with energy production. However, non-respiratory organs and
tissues are also often critical in the toxicological
evaluation of chemicals both as primary sites of deposition and sites of chemical translocation, concentration, biotransformation and excretion. The organ of greatest initial exposure mayor may not be the organ that exhibits the greatest damage from a toxic agent. Renal damage from exposure to toxic agents is due to abnormal hemo-dynamic regulation, damage to the fine vascular of the kidney, or damage to glomeruli or specific portion of nephron tubules. Specific nephrotoxins are the heavy metals especially lead, mercury, cadmium and uranium.
Hepatotoxins may themselves be biotransformed in the liver or they may influence the biotransformation of other chemicals in the liver. Hepatotoxins produce liver damage by causing accumulation of fatty acids in cells, cell necrosis, bath fatty acid accumulation and cell necrosis, cholestosis or liver cancer.
This study amis to elucidate the occupational exposure hazards of lead, zinc, cadmium and organic solvents (toluene, xylene and acetone) in connection
to hepatic disorders in workers in. the electroplating factory. Fifty four workers from El Nasr Company exposed. To vapour of lead, zinc, cadmium and organic solvents (taluene, xylene and acetone) were classified into three main groupS according to their exposure and smoking habit. Liver function tests were carried out for all Tested groups.
A control group which included 10 subjects proved to be clinically healthy. Serum ALT, AST, yGT, AP, Urea,total protein, albumin, A/G, ca++, total bilirubin and its fractions were estimated in this study. Blood Pb, cadmium and serum zinc were also determined.
The obtained results point to, the occupational hazards of lead exposure which is as certained by increasing level of lead in blood relevant to time exposure. The for going results also show that combined effects of high exposure and smoking habit are the most deleterious effect which applies to our results G IV (ES) exposed smoker group. An interaction which may be of clinical importance in that lead and cadmium together have an synergistic effect. Our finding of increased blood lead level combined with decreased zinc content because of interaction between the toxic element Pb and essential element zinc which is antagonistic in that the toxic element inhibites a metabolic process which is dependent on the essential element for this reason serum zinc concentration is inversely proportional to serum lead concentration in all tested groups.
Serum ALT activity increased by 3-4 fold in group IV individuals indicating a certain degree of liver dysfunction.
Serum AST activity indicate significant increase especially in individuals of group III A (more exposed < 10 y), III b (less exposed < 10 y) and group IV. The results also indicate a direct relationship between high exposure combined with long occupational time (G III A) while the most increase is recorded in group IV showing clearly. The impact effect of combined smoking habit with long exposure.
Serum A.P activity in tested groups showed a highly significant elevation in groups II A (more exposed> 10y) III A, III B and IV. These data show that the mostly affected group is group IV individuals.
Serum bilirubin level in all tested groups recorded a significant increase compared with normal control level P < (0.001). Plasma total protein level in tested groups recorded a non significant change compared with normal control level Albumin level in tested groups recorded a significant decresae compared with normal control level.
Globulin level in all tested groups recorded a significant increase compared with normal control level. Thus this increase is relative and not absolute as total protein, protein level showed non significant changes.
Yet, these changes reported in, both fraction may denote a chronic hepatocellular affection in these groups which is very propable as these individuals are mostly exposed reporting the highest increase in globulin fraction.
Hepatotoxicity among the disorders caused by solvent. Liver enlargement was reported three times more often in workers exposed to toluene than in control. Liver cirrhosis can not be only caused by alcohol but sometimes by combination with solvent exposure .we can conclude that hepatic dysfunction is not related to organic solvent only but also to trace elements especially lead, zinc and cadmium in addition to or organic solvents. This extensive study indicates that:
In Group IV which includes individuals smokers and
exposed ≤ 10 years, the impact effect of both factors
is clearly shown in the results obtained as maximum values for blood lead and activity of serum ALT, AST,
yGT and A P.
This study thus also aims to recommend thereafter according to results obtained the most important remarks in similar occupational exposure hazards, thus from the foreging study the following recommendation are proposed periodical clinical investigations on workers, proper environmental assessment, methods of early detection of occupational diseases, importance of using suitable personal protective devices against occupational pollutants and complete prohibition of smoking during working hours.
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| Publication year |
1990
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| Availability location |
7 شارع نادى الصيد - الدقى - الجيزة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| Country |
Egypt
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| Department |
Pesticides Residue Analysis
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Publication Type |
Master Thesis
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