Detecting the Concentration of Some Trace Elements in Blood Samples of Fuel Station Workers

Abstract

Trace elements mediate critical biological events by functioning as cofactors or catalysts for numerous enzymes and as centers for enzyme and protein structure stabilization. As a result, imbalances in trace element metabolism and homeostasis (deficiency or excess) may play a role in a number of disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the blood concentration of essential trace elements of fuel station workers blood in AL-Ramadi city compared with any people who didn’t work in fuel station (control) by measurement of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) because they have negative effects on metabolism and considered to be carcinogenic factors. Total 50 male fuel workers and 50 control from ten fuel stations at Al-Ramadi City- Iraq, were participated in the present study. The levels of Zn, Cu and Fe in serum were measured spectrophotometrically by using laboratory kits. The result clarified that there was a significant increase in zinc, copper and iron mean (p 0.05) in fuel workers group compared to control group. Age had a significant correlation with copper levels and no correlation with zinc and iron. The daily hours of exposure showed no significant correlation with zinc, copper and iron. There was a significant increase in zinc levels in smokers compared to nonsmokers; copper and iron showed no correlation with smoking. The years of work in fuel stations significantly correlated with zinc and copper levels, while it showed no correlation with iron levels. The results of this study showed that there is no significant correlation between zinc, copper and the worker’s weight, while it showed a significant weak positive correlation between iron and the worker’s weight (p 0.05). There was a significant increase in copper levels in the workers with chronic illnesses compared to healthy workers, while zinc and iron had no correlation with chronic illnesses. The conclusion of study is the role of the increase of trace elements on the health of the fuel workers group, attention to use of safety gloves and face mask is recommended for fuel workers and a long follow-up to the studied group is necessary to discover the developments. Also, it is highly recommended to reduce the working hours for fuel workers in order to decrease the accumulative effects of benzene exposure and to allow the body to detoxify the blood.