Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidative Enzyme Activity in Erythrocytes of Workers Occupationally Exposed to Aluminium

Current research indicates that lipid peroxidation could have a role in aluminium toxicity. The aim of this study was to asses lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity in erythrocytes of workers occupationally exposed to aluminium. We investigated a group of 59 workers (Al group) exposed to aluminium fumes (contamination factor F=8.07 to 13.47, national maximal allowed concentration value is 2 mg m^-3). The control group (C group) consisted of 75 subjects employed in lime production who had not been occupationally exposed to aluminium or any known toxic substance.

Erythrocyte aluminium concentrations were significantly higher in the exposed group than controls [Al group (8.41±3.66) μg L^-1, C group (5.60±0.86) μg L^-1, p<0.001]. In the Al group, erythrocyte malondialdehyde concentration was also significantly higher [Al group (189.59±81.27) μmol L^-1, C group (105.21±49.62) μmol L^-1, p<0.001] and antioxidative enzyme activity reduced for glucoso-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase [Al group (5.05±1.70) IU g^-1 Hb, C group (12.53±4.12) IU g^-1 Hb, p<0.001], glutathione reductase [Al group (1.41±0.56) IU g^-1 Hb, C group (1.89±0.57) IU g^-1 Hb, p<0.001], glutathione peroxidase [Al group (12.37±5.76) IU g^-1 Hb, C group (15.54±4.85) IU g^-1 Hb, p<0.001], catalase [Al group (116.76±26.60) IU g^-1 Hb, C group (158.81±71.85) IU g^-1 Hb, p<0.001] and superoxide dismutase [Al group (1175.8±149.9) IU mg^-1 Hb, C group (1377.9±207.5) IU mg^-1 Hb, p<0.001].