Assessing oxidative stress resulting from environmental exposure to metals (Oids) in a middle Eastern population

Concentrations of metals and metalloids derived mainly from anthropogenic activities have increased considerably in the environment. Metals might be associated with increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage, potentially related to several health outcomes. This study has recruited 200 adult participants, including 110 males and 90 females in Shiraz (Iran), to investigate the relationship between chronic exposure to metals and ROS damage by analyzing malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations, and has evaluated the associations between chronic metal exposure and ROS damage using regression analysis. Our findings showed participants are chronically exposed to elevate As, Ni, Hg, and Pb levels. The mean urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG and MDA were 3.8 ± 2.35 and 214 ± 134 µg/g creatinine, respectively. This study shows that most heavy metals are correlated with urinary ROS biomarkers (R ranges 0.19 to 0.64). In addition, regression analysis accounting for other confounding factors such as sex, age, smoking status, and teeth filling with amalgam highlights that Al, Cu, Si and Sn are associated with 8-OHdG concentrations, while an association between Cr and MDA and 8-OHdG is suggested. Smoking cigarettes and water-pipe is considered a significant contributory factor for both ROS biomarkers (MDA and 8-OHdG).