title: Effect of volatile anesthetics on oxidative stress due to occupational exposure.
abstract: Possible health hazards from long-term exposure to inhalation anesthetics cannot yet be definitively excluded. One of the adverse effects of general anesthetics is the exogen sources of reactive oxygen radicals that are responsible for several diseases. We designed the present study to determine the effect of volatile anesthetics on oxidative stress due to occupational exposure. We enrolled 30 anesthesia and surgery personnel who had been exposed to inhalation anesthetics for 3 years and 30 healthy volunteer personnel who had not been exposed to inhalation anesthetics at any period of their life as the control group. Blood samples were taken from both groups for determination of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and their cofactors, which are selenium, copper, and zinc levels. Our results revealed that plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant activity and trace element levels were significantly lower in operating room personnel compared to that in the control groups. We concluded that the antioxidant defense system was affected by free radical injury in anesthesia and surgery personnel who had been exposed to inhalation anesthetics chronically. Therefore, minimizing occupational exposure to volatile anesthetics is important for protecting operation room personnel from hazards. Operating room personnel should also take antioxidant supplements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara 06018, Turkey. hulyaturkan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Türkan
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009871:Operating Room Nursing; D009872:Operating Room Technicians; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D003300:Copper; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc