Seramik İşçilerinde Mesleki Maruziyete Bağlı Olası Genotoksik Hasarın Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element after oxygen that was mainly found in granite, flint, quartz rocks and stones. Exposure to crystalline silica (SiO2) occurs mainly in foundry, processing of diatomaceous earth, brick and ceramics manufacturing. It is known that long term exposure to respirable crystalline silica cause fibrosis and silicosis. Variable diseases such as lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and autoimmune diseases have been associated with occupational crystalline silica exposure. It is reported that crystalline silica exposure can increase the formation of reactive oxygen species and deterioration of the immune and genetic parameters. Occupational crystalline silica exposure is still considered as a major health problem all over the world, especially in the developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible genotoxic damage in ceramic workers. For this purpose, the blood and buccal epithelial cell samples were taken from the workers exposed to crystalline silica (n=99) and their controls (n=81). The DNA damage in isolated lymphocytes and whole blood cells by alkaline single cell electrophoresis, micronucleus (MN) frequencies in buccal epithelial cells and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in plasma samples were determined. In this study, it is found that DNA damage in blood and lymphocytes, MN frequencies in buccal epithelial cells and plasma 8-OHdG levels were significantly increased in crystalline silica exposed workers when compared to their controls. These results showed that occupational crystalline silica exposure cause genotoxic damage that may lead to important health problems in ceramic workers.