Evaluation of oxidative stress and DNA damage in cement and tannery workers in Egypt

In Egypt, workers have potentially high exposure levels to chromium (VI) in the cement production and construction industry and to chromium (III) in the leather tanning industry. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chromium exposure on lipoperoxidation, thiol antioxidants and DNA in cement and tannery workers. This study was conducted on 65 adult male volunteers. These subjects were divided into three groups: Group I (control group); 23 normal healthy volunteers, Group II; 22 cement workers and Group III; 20 tannery workers. All participants were subjected to thorough history, clinical examination and laboratory determination of total blood and urinary chromium, plasma malondialdehyde and total thiol in plasma and assessment of oxidative DNA damage through p53 overexpression. About one third of cement and tannery workers had severe skin and chest manifestations and severe nasal manifestations were observed in 22.7% and 20% of cement and tannery workers, respectively. The blood and urinary Cr and plasma malondialdehyde levels of cement and tannery were significantly higher than control group. Additionally, there was a significant increase of total thiol in control group compared to exposed groups. About half of cement and one third of tannery groups expressed high grade of p53 expression. The blood chromium revealed significant negative correlation with thiol, but, positive correlation with malondialdehyde and p53 expression. Cement and tannery workers should be subjected to frequent clinical examination and blood or urine chromium analysis level to keep guard against its toxic consequences.