Effect of occupational exposure to aflatoxins on some liver tumor markers in textile workers.
BACKGROUND
In a study of textile workers, the effects of occupational exposure to cotton dust-with possible exposure to aflatoxin-on levels of some liver tumor biomarkers were explored.


METHODS
The study included 58 textile workers and 64 controls. Skin prick tests, urinary Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and the tumor biomarkers (alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU), insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1) were measured.


RESULTS
Positive reactants to Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and cotton dust were significantly higher in pre-spinning (14.3%, 28.6%, and 28.6%, respectively) and spinning workers (25.0%, 33.3%, and 25.0%, respectively) compared to controls (4.7%, 7.8%, and 3.1%, respectively). Urinary AFM1 was significantly higher in the pre-spinning, spinning, and weaving groups compared to controls (554.2 ± 346.2 pg/ml, 459.1 ± 781.6 pg/ml, 296.5 ± 336.5 pg/ml and 68.5 ± 136.8 pg/ml, respectively). We found a highly significant increase in levels of serum AFU in textile workers, compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to fungi had a significant effect on AFM1 measurements and tumor biomarkers, especially in allergic textile workers (with the exception of the arginase biomarker), though results were generally within normal limits.
Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
Amal
A
Saad-Hussein
Safia
S
Beshir
Gehan
G
Moubarz
Safaa
S
Elserougy
Mohamed I M
MI
Ibrahim
D000328:Adult; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012882:Skin Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013783:Textile Industry; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase / Q000097:blood
D000348:Aflatoxins; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase