Investigation of Biochemical and Hematological Parameters of Workers Exposed to Arsenic

Abstract

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust and its toxicity is a global health problem affecting many millions of people. Contamination is caused by arsenic from natural geological sources leaching into aquifers, contaminating drinking water and may also occur from mining and other industrial processes. In this study, it was aimed to assess retrospectively the biochemical and hematological markers of workers who exposed to arsenic and referred to our hospital for periodical examination.
102 subjects who had exposed to arsenic and referred to Ankara Occupational Diseases Hospital for periodical examination were included in this study. 206 people who had not exposed to arsenic were included as control group. Arsenic exposure was determined by detecting its level in spot urine sample with Agilent's 7700 Series ICP-MS device. Biochemical parameters, whole blood analysis and sedimentation measurement were analyzed by Konelab Prime 60i, Beckman Coulter LH780 and Alifax device, respectively.
While there was not a significant difference between arsenic exposed workers and control group in the levels of aspartate aminotranspherase (AST), alanine aminotranspherase (ALT), erithrocyte (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hemotocrit (HCT), leukocytes (WBC), thrombocyte (PLT), C-reactive protein (CRP) ve sedimentation rates (p values; 0.403, 0.191, 0.064, 0.760, 0.068, 0.967,0.499, 0.892, 0.604, respectively), there was a significant difference in creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels (p values; <0.001, 0.000, respectively).
Since there was a statistically significant difference between control and arsenic exposured group in terms of urea and creatinine, renal functions should be followed in arsenic exposed subjects. Moreover, it is very important to perform preventing strategies against arsenic in workplaces.