Three Day Environmental Exposure May Trigger Oxidative Stress Development and Provoke Adaptive Response Resulting in Altered Antioxidant Activity.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the polluted working environment triggers oxidative stress and alter enzymatic antioxidant activity by a short-term interval.

METHODS

The experimental study, performed in 2014, involved 94 workers from the Velenje Coalmine in Slovenia, arranged into three groups according to a number of consecutive working days in a mineshaft, supported by a control group. Levels of the antioxidant enzymes (GPx, CAT, SOD) together with TAC (the combined effect of all antioxidants) and 8-isoprostane (a biological marker of oxidative stress/damage) were measured in human plasma.

RESULTS

Workers occupationally exposed for three consecutive working days had significantly increased 8-isoprostane biomarker, a parameter of oxidative stress (<0.001). The antioxidant levels of TAC (<0.001), CAT (<0.001) and SOD (<0.001) were all significantly decreased compared to a control group.

CONCLUSION

Workers in polluted working environment had significantly increased oxidative stress and altered antioxidant activity already on a third consecutive working day.