Occupational exposure of workers at gas station to inorganic lead.

Exposure to the lead is public health problem and threat to environment with proven harmful impact on human, including industrial workers and general population. Harmful impacts of exposition to nervous, endocrine, hematological, cardiovascular, immune and reproductive system to the lead are well known. This article addresses the results of retrospective research carried out with attendants at gas station and those who are professionally exposed to inorganic lead (n=73; n=81), during the course of two periodic reviews performed in 2003 and 2008. All subjects underwent physical examination, ECG, were measured blood pressure and laboratory tests encompassing basic hematological parameters, including measuring of blood lead level (BLL), as bioindicators of exposure and biomarkers of toxic impact of the lead, by the means of determining concentration of 6-aminolevulinic acid in urine (ALA).Valued obtained included (arithmetic mean +/- standard deviation): for BLL 42.5 +/- 26.2 microg/L(-1), for ALA 35.2 +/- 10.6 micromol/L(-1). Quoted values are within normal values for general population. Correlation test established positive correlation between BLL and hematological parameters, number of erythrocytes, concentration of hemoglobin and MCV, and the same correlation ratio was established between BLL and years of age, years of service and exposition years of service as well as BLL and GGT. There was not established correlation between ALA and observed hematological parameters, BLL and systole pressure. Data from our research indicate unification between professional exposure to lead and duration of exposure and increase of concentration of BLL, which are far bellow marginalvalue, but do exceed average values of BLL for people of industrial countries with possible generation of harmful impact of lead. Likewise, the results suggest the increase of overall lead load in the body does not have to be necessarily only the result of professional exposure, but of the intake through other channels as well.

Induction of chromosome aberrations in the Allium cepa test system caused by the exposure of cells to benzo(a) pyrene.

Higher plants have been proposed as test organisms for the detection of genotoxic substances in the environment. Several plant test systems are already in use and are found to be as sensitive and reliable as other short-term tests. Allium cepa is one of these plants, which has been used in different studies to detect chromosome aberrations induced by chemicals. The use of non-animal test methods, including in vitro studies, provides importent tools to enhance our understanding of hazardous effect of chemicals, and for predicting these effects in humans. In vitro systems are used principally for screening purposes, and for generating toxicological profiles. Numerous chemicals can generate the breakage or interchange of DNA segments between chromosomal structures. Allium test is used as a screening method for genotoxicity evaluation of different chemical substances, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), as representative member of PAHs, were investigated of genotoxicity by using Allium roote chromosomes assay. The treatment with different series of concentrations of BaP, ranging from 1.0-50.0 microg/ml respectively. Used BaP caused decreased in the Mitotic index (MI) and increase frequency of abnormal mitosis when compared with the control.

[Xenoestrogen effects of chemical compounds: influence on the breast cancer]. / Ksenoestrogeni efekti hemijskih materija: utjecaj na razvoj karcinoma dojke.

There is considerable concern about the increasing incidence of endocrine-related cancer and deteriorating reproductive health in humans. A large number of natural and man-made chemicals have the ability to mimic the action of the endogenous steroid hormone 17beta-estradiol by binding to and activating the estrogen receptor. Although there is no consensus regarding the role of xenoestrogens in these effects and no conclusive studies demonstrating that xenoestrogens initiate or contribute to the development of these effects. The molecular structure of exogenous natural and synthetic estrogens may be very similar to, or strikingly different from the natural hormone. Despite their structural diversity, all of the exogenous estrogens, when ingested either as natural compounds (phytoestrogens, mycoestrogens) or contaminants (xenoestrogens), have the capacitiy to bind to the ER at a given concentration in target cells of the body and can initiate (agonist) or inhibit (antagonist) estrogen-like actions. Assessment of the impact of xenoestrogenic compounds will require additional research on identification and quantitation of these compounds in serum, their interactions with plasma and cellular proteins, and their uptake in target tissues. Aim of this paper is to show the possible estrogenic effects of polcycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorines-persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and phytoestrogens.

[The assessment of work ability in persons with hepatitis B and C]. / Ocjena radne sposobnosti osoba sa hepatitisom B i C.

A risk group for infection of virus hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) makes health care professionals who contact with blood, and body fluid. The aim of this study was, on the base of markers of infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus define criteria for evaluation work ability of the infected personnel. On the base of markers of HBV infection enabled identification of four groups infection persons with different work ability: 1) HBsAg-positive, anti-HBc-positive, HBcAg-positive, anti-HBc IgM-positive and HBV DNA-positive; 2) HBsAg-positive, anti-HBc-positive, HBcAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive, anti-HBc IgM-positive and HBV DNA-positive; 3) HBsAg-positive, anti-HBc-positive, HBcAg-negative, anti-HBe-positive, anti-HBc IgM-negative and HBV DNA-negative; 4) Anti-HBs-positive, anti-HBc-positive, anti-HBc IgM-negative and anti-HBc-positive. For HCV infection, two groups with different work ability were identified: 1) Anti-HCV-positive and HCV RNA-negative; 2) Anti-HCV-positive and HCV RNA positive.

[Occupational risks for medical personnel exposed to hepatitis C virus infection]. / Profesionalni rizik medicinskog osoblja kod izlaganja infekciji virusom hepatitisa C.

Infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is real danger for all medical staff, and especially those who directly contact biological material (blood, blood derivatives, tissues and tissue liquids). Increased possibility of infection with HCV is generated by high prevalence of the diseases amongst general population, high infectious capacity of the virus itself and every day contacts of medical staff, especially surgeons, personnel working on hemodialysis, with blood, tissues and other tissue liquids. Measures of "Standard recommendations" for protection of medical staff from HCV infections have been established, together with measures of skin and mucous membrane protection from direct contact with biological material (gloves, masks, protective glasses) as well as measures for handling and disposal of injection needles and other sharp medical instruments into special hard dishes. It is not recommended by post-exposure prophylaxis to use antiviral medicines (interferon) or immunoglobulin. Medical institutions are obliged to develop measures for protection of medical staff, which are applicable after percute or permucouse exposition to anti-HCV positive blood.