Trace Elements and Oxidative Stress Levels in the Blood of Painters in Lagos, Nigeria: Occupational Survey and Health Concern

• Published in: Biological trace element research Vol. 153; no. 1-3; pp. 127 - 133
• Main Authors: Awodele, Olufunsho, Akinyede, Akin, Babawale, Omotola Opeyemi, Coker, Herbert A. Babatunde, Akintonwa, Alade
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.06.2013; Humana Press Inc; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; adverse effects; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Blood; catalase; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; glutathione; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; malondialdehyde; Middle Aged; mixing; Nigeria; Nutrition; Occupational exposure; Occupational Health; Occupational safety; Oncology; Oxidative Stress; Paint - adverse effects; Paints; Petrochemicals; questionnaires; solvents; superoxide dismutase; surveys; Trace elements; Trace Elements - blood; Trace Elements - toxicity; Young Adult; Nigeria; Lagos Nigeria; Portugal, Faro, Lagos; Occupation; Lagos; Trace elements; Painters; Paints; Oxidative stress parameters
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-013-9674-z

Adverse effects attributed to exposure to paints are currently a concern because of the continued widespread use of paint containing trace elements. Thus, occupational survey amongst painters in Lagos and determination of trace elements and oxidative stress parameters were carried out. Descriptive cross-sectional survey was done using a standardized questionnaire to obtain job safety-related information. Forty-eight percent of the painters were aware of hazards associated with painting and 52 % of these workers were aware of the necessary precautionary measures during painting. There were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) between the levels of trace elements in the blood of painters and the control subjects. However, there was a significance increase (p ≤ 0.0001) in the level of malondialdehyde and a decrease (p ≤ 0.001) in the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase of the painters compared to the control. An increase in oxidative stress parameters may not only be due to trace element concentrations, but also the painters’ exposure to some petrochemical solvents during mixing of paints.