title: Trace elements and oxidative stress levels in the blood of painters in Lagos, Nigeria: occupational survey and health concern.
abstract: Adverse effects attributed to exposure to paints are currently a concern because of the continued widespread use of paint containing trace elements. Thus, occupational survey amongst painters in Lagos and determination of trace elements and oxidative stress parameters were carried out. Descriptive cross-sectional survey was done using a standardized questionnaire to obtain job safety-related information. Forty-eight percent of the painters were aware of hazards associated with painting and 52 % of these workers were aware of the necessary precautionary measures during painting. There were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) between the levels of trace elements in the blood of painters and the control subjects. However, there was a significance increase (p ≤ 0.0001) in the level of malondialdehyde and a decrease (p ≤ 0.001) in the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase of the painters compared to the control. An increase in oxidative stress parameters may not only be due to trace element concentrations, but also the painters' exposure to some petrochemical solvents during mixing of paints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria. awodeleo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Olufunsho
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Awodele
authors.forename: Akin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akinyede
authors.forename: Omotola Opeyemi
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Babawale
authors.forename: Herbert A Babatunde
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.forename: Alade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akintonwa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D016272:Occupational Health; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements