Estimation of trace elements in workers at electrical substations and communication towers in Baghdad City

Abstract

The works on pollution in developing countries indicate a prevalence of trace elements in environment. Electrical stations and cellular communication towers are important sources of pollution that affects the quality of human health. While the electric power generating stations constructed away from cities, the substations are located near the consumers. Because of the lack in information on the effects of electric substations on human health and the abundance of cellular towers in Baghdad we aimed to evaluate the trace elements in the workers at these two facilities since they are on continuous exposure to the underlying pollution. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were evaluated in the blood, while copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were evaluated in the serum of forty workers at electrical substations and forty workers at communication towers and compared with forty healthy people with no attachments to these two facilities. The effect of trace elements on renal and liver function was estimated. The levels of blood Pb, Cd, and Cu were significantly (P<0.05) higher in workers at electrical substations and communication towers compared to control. On the other hand, Zn level was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in electrical substation and communication towers workers compared to control.