Kaynak İşçilerinde Mesleki Maruziyete Bağlı Olası Toksik Etkilerin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Aksu, İ., Evaluation of Possible Genotoxic Damage in Welders Due to Occupational Exposure, Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences, Ph.D. Thesis in Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Ankara, 2018. Welding is widely applied process of combining two metal pieces, in many industrial areas. Today, welding is used in many areas from simple industrial operations in small enterprises to high-tech manufacturing industries such as automotive, defense industry, aerospace. It is a very risky and dangerous practices in terms of occupational diseases. In a large number of studies on health problems caused by occupational exposure to welding, attention is drawn to the inhalation of the welding gas containing a large number of harmful substances occurring during the process. The respiratory system is in particular the target organ. Respiratory system disorders such as bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia were observed in welders. Metal fume fever is among the most common acute respiratory diseases in welders. Besides, it is known that the occupational exposure in welders, has negative effects on the skin, eyes, reproductive system and central nervous system. However, in recent years, studies on welders have concentrated on genotoxic damage. Unlike all of the effects above; genotoxic damage is a very serious condition that can trigger cancer formation, indicate late results of chronic exposure. It is known that the welding fume contains two hazardous metals, which are classified as Group 1 carcinogenic by International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), such as chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). In this thesis study, the results obtained from samples of welders (n = 48) and paired controls without any exposure (n = 48) were compared. Possible genotoxic damage caused by occupational exposure has been assessed with single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) in blood samples and micronucleus (MN) in buccal epithelial tissue samples. Genotoxic damage was found to be high in welders. This thesis was supported by Hacettepe University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Project no: THD-2015-7282.