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Published on: February 22, 2019
Immunological abnormalities in workers exposed to pollutants at an Egyptian copper company
Laila H El-Sayed1, Hossam M Ghoneim, Mona H El-Sayed
1Departments of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria, Egypt.
Insights
Industrial copper plant workers exposed to high pollutant levels showed impaired immune cell activity and altered immunoglobulin levels. These immunological changes correlated with exposure duration and led to autoimmune and allergic symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Immunotoxicology
- Environmental Medicine
Background:
- Workers in copper industry sectors face exposure to a complex mixture of toxicants.
- Understanding the immunotoxicological effects of these exposures is crucial for occupational health.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the specific immune system impacts in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate biochemical changes, serum immunoglobulin levels, and peripheral blood lymphocyte mitogenicity in workers exposed to industrial pollutants.
- To assess the relationship between pollutant exposure duration and observed immunological alterations.
- To identify potential health risks including autoimmune and allergic manifestations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Assessment of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) mitogenic activity via 3H-thymidine uptake.
- Measurement of cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta) using ELISA.
- Comparison between directly exposed workers, administrative personnel, and a healthy control group.
Main Results:
- Workers in aluminum utensils sector showed reduced serum IgG, IgA, and IgM levels.
- Workers in other exposed sectors exhibited elevated immunoglobulin levels.
- Impaired PBL mitogenic activity was observed in all plant personnel.
- Elevated levels of interleukins and tumor necrosis factors were detected in exposed workers.
- Immunological changes correlated with the duration of occupational exposure.
- Workers reported symptoms of arthritis, spondylitis, and allergic manifestations.
Conclusions:
- Occupational exposure to high concentrations of industrial pollutants in the copper industry induces significant immunotoxicological effects.
- Both suppressed and elevated immunoglobulin responses, alongside impaired lymphocyte function, were observed.
- The findings highlight the need for enhanced occupational safety measures and health surveillance programs for exposed workers.
Abstract:
In the present work we studied: (a) biochemical changes; (b) serum immunoglobulins (IGs); and (c) mitogenecity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in workers directly exposed to high concentrations of pollutants in several sectors of a major copper company in Alexandria. These sectors included the aluminum utensils refining of copper semicontinuous aluminum casting, brass foundries, and steel furnaces. Toxicants in these sectors included aluminum, hexachloroethan, silica, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead, abestos, nickels, zinc, silver, carbon iron, and sulfate present in high concentrations in the sectors where workers are directly exposed. Administrative personnel (indirectly exposed) were included as positive controls; negative controls were people living in areas of Alexandria where the concentrations of these toxicants are extremely low. All personnel of the aluminum utensils area showed reduction in serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) while workers directly exposed in the other sectors showed elevated Igs. Mitogenic activity in cultured PBL assayed by 3H-thymidine uptake was impaired in all plant personnel. However, experimentals showed increases in the interleukins IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumour necrosis factor-alpha and-beta (TNF-alpha and beta) assayed by ELISA. Changes were directly related to duration of exposure. Some workers showed autoimmune symptoms such as arthritis and spondylitis. Allergic manifestations were also recorded. Thus, abnormalities were greatest in directly exposed workers, while other plant personnel showed some form of toxicity in the parameters studied. Clinical significance of the immunologic abnormalities seen is under further study.
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