Lipid peroxidation in workers exposed to hexavalent chromium

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Toxicology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Hexavalent chromium is a known occupational hazard in industries like chrome plating.
• Chromium exposure can lead to oxidative stress and cellular damage.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers for chromium exposure is crucial for worker health monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between occupational hexavalent chromium exposure and lipid peroxidation in human subjects.
• To evaluate malondialdehyde (MDA) as a potential biomarker for chromium exposure.
• To assess the activity of antioxidant enzymes in chromium-exposed workers.

Main Methods:

• Study included 25 chrome-plating workers and 28 controls.
• Measured whole-blood and urinary chromium concentrations using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
• Quantified malondialdehyde (MDA) levels via high-performance liquid chromatography.
• Assessed antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPX, CAT) using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry.

Main Results:

• Chromium and MDA concentrations in blood and urine were significantly elevated in exposed workers compared to controls.
• Mean blood chromium was 5.98 microg/L and urinary chromium was 5.25 microg/g creatinine in workers.
• Mean blood MDA was 1.7 micromol/L and urinary MDA was 2.24 micromol/g creatinine in workers.
• Activities of SOD, GPX, and CAT did not show significant differences between exposed and control groups.

Conclusions:

• Malondialdehyde (MDA) shows promise as a sensitive biomarker for occupational hexavalent chromium exposure.
• Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPX, CAT) are not suitable biomarkers for monitoring chromium exposure.
• Findings highlight the oxidative stress induced by occupational chromium exposure.