Early diagnostic and prognostic criteria for health disorders in chemical workers

The production of synthetic materials - fiberglass and rubber-technical products, as well as products derived from oil refining wastes continues to grow. A characteristic feature of the working conditions of these enterprises is the content of chemicals of hazard class 1-4, which may be potentially hazardous to workers. It imperative to justify prenosological laboratory criteria for health problems of manufacturing workers. The results of the hematological, biochemical, immunological and cytochemical parameters among manufacturing workers are presented. Significant changes in the processes of oxidative metabolism, lipid metabolism, impaired immune status, and intracellular enzyme activity were found in a significant proportion of the workers. Changes were detected in workers even with a short work experience (5 years) and of young age (20-30 years). With an increase in the occupational length of service, the frequency of these disorders increased. Based on the results obtained, early diagnostic and prognostic criteria for health disorders in workers of diverse chemical industries are substantiated. Based on the results obtained, early diagnostic and prognostic criteria for health disorders in workers of diverse chemical industries are substantiated. For rubber manufacturing workers: increased malonic dialdehyde, reduced catalase activity, the activity of catalase is lowering; increased enzymes activity (AST, ALT, GGT), protein abnormalities, erythropenia, decreased hemoglobin levels, increased reticulocyte. For fiber glass manufacturing workers: indicators of the oxidative antioxidant system, hemograms - increased lymphocytes, erythrocytosis, leukocytosis, increased CD3 +, increased CD4 +, CD 16+, CD 20 +, FAL, IgG, increased total protein, hyperfermentemia (GGT, ALT), changes in the intracellular enzymes activity - acid phosphatase of neutrophils and lymphocytes, decreased myeloperoxidase, increased glycogen levels. For olefin oxides manufacturing workers - this is hyperfermentemia (ALT, alkaline phosphatase), protein metabolism changes, increased red blood cells, reticulocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, platelets, leucopenia, decreased FAL, increased IgM, decreased IgA, IgG, changes in the intracellular enzymes activity - decrease myeloperoxidase, increase acid phosphatase of neutrophils and lymphocytes.

Polymorphism of Glutathione S-transferase Genes and the Risk of Toxic Liver Damage in Petrochemical Workers

BACKGROUND

Exposure to numerous chemicals, including industrial ones, may result in liver damage. The body susceptibility to the environmental hazards largely depends on the activity of the enzymes in the xenobiotic detoxification system. Function abnormalities of such enzymes due to genetic variations would increase the risk of developing various diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the relationship between polymorphism in glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1) and the risk of toxic liver damage in a group of petrochemical workers.

METHODS

This study was conducted on 72 workers with toxic liver injury, 156 healthy workers, and 322 healthy individuals without history of occupational exposure to chemicals. Genotyping of the GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to perform genotyping of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes polymorphism.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in genotype frequencies of the GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism among the groups studied. The distribution of Val/Val genotype of the GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism had a higher incidence in healthy workers compared with patients with toxic liver damage (p=0.036). No significant association was found between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms and toxic liver damage.

CONCLUSION

The GSTP1 rs1695 gene polymorphism can play a protective role in the development of toxic liver damage in petrochemical workers.

[Informative changes in indicators of homeostasis to the assessment of individual risk adaptation disorders in workers of the chemical industry.]

This paper reviews the results of complex laboratory examinations among workers manufacturing fiber glass. The most pronounced and early changes in oxidative metabolism processes (reduced catalase activity, increased malonic dialdehyde) and rates of blood serum lipid metabolism indicators were determined, increased values of leukocyte indices of intoxication, violations in the immune status. Changes were detected in workers even with a small length of service (5 years) and young age (20-30 years). With increasing length of service in the workplace, the frequency of these violations increased.Based on the data obtained we have developed laboratory markers that are suitable for diagnosing early preclinical disorders among fiber glass manufacturing workers.

[Peculiarities of air pollution in the production of continuous glass fiber]

With the use of a one-stage method we have carried out hygienic studies of the air of work area of the production of continuous glass fiber. There was revealed the emission of epichlorohydrin, formaldehyde, ethane acid, hydrochloride, spray of mineral petroleum oil, fine glass fiber dust in air of the work area. There was established the combined effect of hazardous substances of unidirectional action with the summation effect on the body. Hazardous substances containing in glass fiber sizers in combination with dust of glass fiber against the background of microtraumatization of the hand skin contribute to the development of occupational skin neoplasms. The studies became the basis of the development of preventive measures aimed at the reduction of risks of the impact of the chemical factor impact on workers.

[The use of the antioxidant drink by healthy workers exposed to chemical factors]

In chemical manufacturing along with alimentary factors, workers are exposed to occupational hazards resulting in reduced antitoxic protective properties of the organism. The purpose of the present work was to develop a preventive method for reducing antitoxic functions of the body of healthy workers exposed to chemical factors. We have produced the drink containing carrot juice, honey, olive oil. The study involved 50 employees (the average age was 37.4±5.5 years) with experience of over 15 years. The main group (25 people) were workers with reduced antitoxic function who received the drink before each day's work shift for 10 days, the control group - workers with normal anti-toxic function, which did not take a drink. It was found that antioxidant drink intake by healthy employees of a chemical complex lead to the decrease of the level of molecules of average mass at λ=254 nm and at λ=280 nm by 15.1±7.2%, the activity of gammaglutamyl transferase - by 19.1%, alaninaminotransferase - by 44.1%, aspartataminotrans-ferase - by 34.7% (indicators of the syndrome of endogenous intoxication), the decrease of the content of malondialdehyde (as an indicator of an excessive accumulation of products of lipid peroxidation) - by 43.8%, while the activity of catalase, that indicates an increase in the antitoxic functions of the organism, increased by 37.5%.

[The laboratory markers of early metabolic disorders in workers of rubber Articles industry.]

The article presents results of complex laboratory analyses applied to workers of rubber articles industry using biochemical, hematological, immunological techniques. The study established the most expressed and early alterations of processes of oxidative metabolism (decreasing of catalase activity, increasing of level of malonic dialdehyde and uric acid) and indicators of lipid metabolism of blood serum. The increasing of percentage of persons with metabolic disorders related to length of service in industry is established. In examined workers signs of anemia (erythropenia, decreasing of level of hemoglobin) and leukopenia were detected. The imbalance of T-cell component (CD+ CD4+), accompanied by alteration of phagocyte activity and defect of humoral component with increasing of level of IgM and decreasing of level of IgA. The coefficients of diagnostic sensitivity of analyzed laboratory tests were established. The most significant laboratory markers permit diagnosing early metabolic disorders and degree of their expressiveness in workers of rubber articles industry.

[Cases of nickel carbonyl acute poisoning at major petrochemical enterprises]

Follow-up of patients with nickel carbonyl acute poisoning varying in severity revealed a pathologic trend--functional and organic disorders of nervous system with asthenic vegetative, asthenic organic dysfunctions, toxic encephalopathy, bronchopulmonary diseases (toxic bronchitis with subsequent pneumosclerosis), toxic myocardium dystrophy, hepatobiliary system affection--toxic hepatopathy.