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Serum Nickel Levels Compromise the Oxidative Status and Lung Functions in Ceramic Workers

Received: 1 March 2021     Accepted: 17 March 2021     Published: 30 March 2021
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Abstract

Nickel, in the form of various alloys and compounds, has been in widespread commercial use for over 100 years. Several million workers worldwide are exposed to airborne fumes, dust, and mist containing nickel and its compounds. Further, exposures by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact occur in nickel-producing industries, like mining, milling, melting, and refining, and in nickel-using industries, like electroplating, welding, and grinding. Insoluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-producing industries, whereas soluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-using industries like the ceramics industry. This study was designed to extrapolate the levels of serum nickel, antioxidant compounds, and stress markers and correlate them with lung function status in craft workers in the ceramics industry. The study included 50 fiber craft workers from the ceramics industry who met the inclusion criteria. The control group consisted of subjects from the general population with no disease. Blood samples from the workers were collected by a phlebotomist. The levels of nickel and biological antioxidants, i.e. serum glutathione (GSH) and stress marker malondialdehye (MDA), were determined. Estimation of oxidants and haptoglobin (Hp) levels were assessed. The level of nickel was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A spirometer was used to measure lung functions. The calculated levels of these parameters were compared with those in the control subjects. An overall increase in nickel and MDA levels and a decrease in GSH level were observed. When these workers were classified into groups, it was observed that prolonged employment in the ceramics industry was associated with an increased nickel concentration in the serum, which in turn increased oxidative stress biomarkers and thus decreased the antioxidant levels to the lower limit. The decrease in GSH level compromises lung function. Our findings of an increase the Hp level is noteworthy, as it increased by 89% in the group with over 10 years of service in the industry compared with the group working for less than 5 years. Prolonged exposure of nickel increases the oxidative stress, in terms of increased MDA level and decreased GSH level. These findings can compromise the lung function and increase the Hp level.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Chemistry (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11
Page(s) 1-6
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Nickel, GSH, MDA, Haptoglobin, ROS, Antioxidant

References
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    Uzma Jabbar, Mazhar Mushtaq, Javed Anver Qureshi. (2021). Serum Nickel Levels Compromise the Oxidative Status and Lung Functions in Ceramic Workers. International Journal of Environmental Chemistry, 5(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11

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    ACS Style

    Uzma Jabbar; Mazhar Mushtaq; Javed Anver Qureshi. Serum Nickel Levels Compromise the Oxidative Status and Lung Functions in Ceramic Workers. Int. J. Environ. Chem. 2021, 5(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11

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    AMA Style

    Uzma Jabbar, Mazhar Mushtaq, Javed Anver Qureshi. Serum Nickel Levels Compromise the Oxidative Status and Lung Functions in Ceramic Workers. Int J Environ Chem. 2021;5(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11,
      author = {Uzma Jabbar and Mazhar Mushtaq and Javed Anver Qureshi},
      title = {Serum Nickel Levels Compromise the Oxidative Status and Lung Functions in Ceramic Workers},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Chemistry},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-6},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijec.20210501.11},
      abstract = {Nickel, in the form of various alloys and compounds, has been in widespread commercial use for over 100 years. Several million workers worldwide are exposed to airborne fumes, dust, and mist containing nickel and its compounds. Further, exposures by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact occur in nickel-producing industries, like mining, milling, melting, and refining, and in nickel-using industries, like electroplating, welding, and grinding. Insoluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-producing industries, whereas soluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-using industries like the ceramics industry. This study was designed to extrapolate the levels of serum nickel, antioxidant compounds, and stress markers and correlate them with lung function status in craft workers in the ceramics industry. The study included 50 fiber craft workers from the ceramics industry who met the inclusion criteria. The control group consisted of subjects from the general population with no disease. Blood samples from the workers were collected by a phlebotomist. The levels of nickel and biological antioxidants, i.e. serum glutathione (GSH) and stress marker malondialdehye (MDA), were determined. Estimation of oxidants and haptoglobin (Hp) levels were assessed. The level of nickel was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A spirometer was used to measure lung functions. The calculated levels of these parameters were compared with those in the control subjects. An overall increase in nickel and MDA levels and a decrease in GSH level were observed. When these workers were classified into groups, it was observed that prolonged employment in the ceramics industry was associated with an increased nickel concentration in the serum, which in turn increased oxidative stress biomarkers and thus decreased the antioxidant levels to the lower limit. The decrease in GSH level compromises lung function. Our findings of an increase the Hp level is noteworthy, as it increased by 89% in the group with over 10 years of service in the industry compared with the group working for less than 5 years. Prolonged exposure of nickel increases the oxidative stress, in terms of increased MDA level and decreased GSH level. These findings can compromise the lung function and increase the Hp level.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Serum Nickel Levels Compromise the Oxidative Status and Lung Functions in Ceramic Workers
    AU  - Uzma Jabbar
    AU  - Mazhar Mushtaq
    AU  - Javed Anver Qureshi
    Y1  - 2021/03/30
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Chemistry
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Chemistry
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Chemistry
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 6
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1460
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijec.20210501.11
    AB  - Nickel, in the form of various alloys and compounds, has been in widespread commercial use for over 100 years. Several million workers worldwide are exposed to airborne fumes, dust, and mist containing nickel and its compounds. Further, exposures by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact occur in nickel-producing industries, like mining, milling, melting, and refining, and in nickel-using industries, like electroplating, welding, and grinding. Insoluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-producing industries, whereas soluble nickel is the predominant exposure in nickel-using industries like the ceramics industry. This study was designed to extrapolate the levels of serum nickel, antioxidant compounds, and stress markers and correlate them with lung function status in craft workers in the ceramics industry. The study included 50 fiber craft workers from the ceramics industry who met the inclusion criteria. The control group consisted of subjects from the general population with no disease. Blood samples from the workers were collected by a phlebotomist. The levels of nickel and biological antioxidants, i.e. serum glutathione (GSH) and stress marker malondialdehye (MDA), were determined. Estimation of oxidants and haptoglobin (Hp) levels were assessed. The level of nickel was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A spirometer was used to measure lung functions. The calculated levels of these parameters were compared with those in the control subjects. An overall increase in nickel and MDA levels and a decrease in GSH level were observed. When these workers were classified into groups, it was observed that prolonged employment in the ceramics industry was associated with an increased nickel concentration in the serum, which in turn increased oxidative stress biomarkers and thus decreased the antioxidant levels to the lower limit. The decrease in GSH level compromises lung function. Our findings of an increase the Hp level is noteworthy, as it increased by 89% in the group with over 10 years of service in the industry compared with the group working for less than 5 years. Prolonged exposure of nickel increases the oxidative stress, in terms of increased MDA level and decreased GSH level. These findings can compromise the lung function and increase the Hp level.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Biochemistry Department, Fatima Memorial Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan

  • Basic Medical Sciences Department, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Al-Bukayriah, Saudi Arabia

  • Nstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, ILahore, Pakistan

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