Neurotransmitters Disorders and Oxidative Stress in Workers Exposed To brick kiln Pollutants in Egypt.

Abstract

Brick manufacturing is the fastest-growing industrial sector in many countries like Egypt, India and Pakistan and among the top three sectors, along with vehicle exhaust and suspended road dust, contributing to the air pollution and health problems. Objective: this work was designed to study the effect of brick kilns emissions on neurotransmitters and oxidative stress in brick kiln workers. Subjects and methods: this study was carried out on 60 workers exposed to emissions from brick kilns classified into 3 groups in addition to, 20 healthy volunteers served, as control. All groups were subjected to the following: heavy metals in serum (Pb, Cd, Cr) by atomic absorption spectro-photometry, Levels of serum oxidative stress biomarkers (Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and Nitric oxide) and activity of acetylcholine (ACh) , pseudo-cholinesterase (PChE) and Neuron specific Enolase(NSE),liver enzymes(AST,ALT and GGT), serum Alpha-1-antitrypsin(A1AT), Complete blood count (RBCs, HB, HCT, MCH,MCHC, WBCs, PLTs) and Arterial Blood gases(PH, PO2 PCO2, HCO3). Results: We found the activity of serum MDA .No , TAC, Ach, NSE , A1AT,AST,ALT and GGT were significantly increased with increasing in heavy metals concentration in brick kilns workers and significant decrease in PChE Activity. Conclusions and recommendations: The mentioned results strongly suggest that total antioxidant capacity could be used in predicting oxidative stress, Acetyl cholinesterase and acetylcholine should be regular routinely measured as early biomarkers characterized in human environmental exposure to toxins and Serum NSE protein level initially could be used in predicting development of delayed neurological sequelae in brick kiln bakers.