Biochemical indicators of the lipid metabolism in workers involved in the processing of raw materials and production of rare metal products

Abstract

Introduction. In recent years, the use of rare earth elements has been expanding in various innovative research and high-tech industries, which leads to an increase in the volume of their extraction and processing and makes it possible to develop a negative impact on the health of workers under conditions of long-term industrial exposure to rare earth elements with the air of the working area.
 The purpose of the work is to study and evaluate the deviations of the biochemical parameters of the lipid spectrum in workers, due to the chemical factors of the technological process of processing raw materials and production of rare metal products.
 Materials and methods. The study and evaluation of the content of rare earth elements in the blood of workers, the study of biochemical parameters, statistical analysis, modelling of cause-and-effect relationships were carried out.
 Results. Workers exposed to rare-earth elements with the air of the working area (100% of workplaces) showed increased concentrations of holmium, dysprosium, yttrium, neodymium, niobium and terbium in the blood from 1.5 to 2.5 times compared to similar indicators in workers who were not associated with technological process. Elevated levels of total cholesterol, VLDL and triglycerides in blood serum, a decrease in the total antioxidant activity of blood plasma in workers relative to the physiological norm and similar indicators in the comparison group were established. A significant relationship of the identified deviations with an increased blood concentration of niobium, dysprosium and holmium has been proven.
 Limitations. The study took into account the aerogenic inhalation effect of rare earth elements on the health of workers involved in the processing of raw materials and production of rare metal products. 
 Conclusion. Long-term inhalation exposure to rare earth elements contained in the air of the working area caused changes in biochemical parameters, reflecting the depletion of antioxidant defense resources, inducing disorders of lipid metabolism. The identified negative effects in workers can lead to pro-atherogenic vascular inflammation under conditions of continuing industrial exposure. The obtained results should be taken into account for the development of recommendations aimed at minimizing the negative consequences of the impact of the studied chemical factors of the labour process on the health of workers.