title: Oxidative stress and early DNA damage in workers exposed to iron-rich metal fumes.
abstract: Occupational exposure to metal fumes occurs routinely in many occupational settings. The inflammatory response to fumes and metals after exposure could lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species and level of DNA damage. In this study, the level of early DNA damage and oxidative stress was evaluated in a group of steel company (n = 30) and compared to the non-exposed (n = 28) subjects. All DNA damage markers in workers were significantly higher in exposed group in comparison with controls (p < 0.001). Stratified analysis based on smoking showed no significant differences between smoking and comet assay parameters. There was no significant difference between workers and controls in terms of HCT, TIBC, iron, and ferreting. However, HB in controls was significantly lower than exposed group (p < 0.001). A significant increase in catalase activity and MDA serum levels were observed in workers in comparison with controls. These findings suggest for the potential genotoxic effect of iron reach dust. Due to recent findings on the predictive potential of comet assay for cancer development, further, researches should be conducted to investigate the possible biochemical mechanism of such finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Alem Square, Shohadaye Gomnam Bulverde, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pandeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Alem Square, Shohadaye Gomnam Bulverde, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Saedeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Alem Square, Shohadaye Gomnam Bulverde, Yazd, Iran. mjzs63@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zare Sakhvidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Alem Square, Shohadaye Gomnam Bulverde, Yazd, Iran. jzavar@ssu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zavar Reza
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Lyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sedghian
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008670:Metals; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D007501:Iron
keywords: Comet assay; Occupational health; Oxidative stress; Particulate matter