Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Toxic environmental agents include a host of chemicals and pollutants that may available in tobacco smoke and tar, the atmosphere, drugs, the work place, the food and water supply and from radiation and infectious organisms. These agents may exert multiple types of harmful effects on human body, including lipid peroxidation.
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the effects of duration of exposure on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in liquefied propane gas workers.
METHODS:
Fifty five adult male gas workers (age mean 36. 6 ± 3.8 years) in liquefied propane gas stations in the District of Baghdad were enrolled in the present study. They were allocated into 3 groups according to the duration of exposure to LPG (1-9, 10-20 and more than 20 years). Twenty five healthy subjects, not exposed to LPG, with age mean comparable to that of workers (37.2 ± 4.0 years) were utilized as controls.
RESULTS:
The results showed significant differences in the levels of MetHb, lipid peroxidation parameters and antioxidant enzymes activities in LPG workers compared to controls. Meanwhile, workers with different duration of exposure to LPG demonstrated significant differences only in MetHb, MDA and catalase activity.
CONCLUSION:
Workers with different duration of exposure to LPG demonstrated significant differences only in MetHb, MDA and catalase activity. In conclusion, the changes in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes may be useful as indicator for the impact of duration of exposure in LPG workers