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. 2015 Sep 28:14:1067-77.
doi: 10.17179/excli2015-469. eCollection 2015.

Study on genotoxicity, oxidative stress biomarkers and clinical symptoms in workers of an asbestos-cement factory

Azam Afaghi  1 , Shahrbanoo Oryan  1 , Kobra Rahzani  2 , Mohammad Abdollahi  3
Affiliations

Study on genotoxicity, oxidative stress biomarkers and clinical symptoms in workers of an asbestos-cement factory

Azam Afaghi et al. EXCLI J. .

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the markers of oxidative stress could be altered in workers exposed to asbestos. A comparative cross-sectional research was conducted in a group of 50 subjects exposed to asbestos and another group of 50 with the same age and sex unexposed to asbestos. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol molecule (TTM), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and DNA damage, were measured in the blood samples of workers and controls. Compared to the control group, the workers showed higher blood levels of DNA damage (P=0.0001) and MDA (P=0.0001). The workers showed lower TTM (P=0.02) as compared with the control group. There was no considerable difference on the level of TAC (P=0.1) between the groups. The workers indicated clinical symptoms such as breathlessness, phlegm, coughing and wheezing. There was a positive correlation between levels of 8-OHdG and MDA of asbestos workers and the smoking status suggesting the negative role of smoking.

Keywords: DNA damage; asbestos; malondialdehyde; oxidative stress; plant; total antioxidant capacity; total thiol molecule.

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Figures

Table 1
Table 1. Summary of demographic data in asbestos-cement plant workers and control subjects
Table 2
Table 2. Distribution of study subjects by smoking habits
Table 3
Table 3. Frequency (%) of abnormal clinical findings in asbestos exposed workers (50) and controls (50), also in the smoker and non-smoker subgroups among asbestos exposed workers and controls
Table 4
Table 4. Mean ± SD of Plasma 8-OHdG, MDA, TTM and TAC of smoker and non-smoker subgroups among asbestos exposed workers and controls
Figure 1
Figure 1. Mean ± SD of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (ng/ml) among workers and controls
Figure 2
Figure 2. Mean ± SD of malondialdehyde level (mM) among workers and controls
Figure 3
Figure 3. Mean ± SD of Total thiol molecule (mM) among workers and controls group
Figure 4
Figure 4. Mean ± SD of Total antioxidant capacity (mM) among workers and controls
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