Lütfiye Tutkun

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis in asphalt workers

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate thiol/disulfide homeostasis in asphalt workers who are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occupationally. The study was carried out in 34 nonsmoker asphalt workers. Additionally, 35 healthy nonsmoker volunteers were recruited as control group. Thiol and disulfide concentrations were determined using the novel automated measurement method. Levels of urinary 1-OH-pyrene were analyzed by liquid chromatography. Disulfide/thiol ratio was significantly higher in exposed group (p = .034). Also, a positive correlation was detected between disulfide/thiol ratio and 1-OH-pyrene values (r = .249, p = .036). Thiol/disulfide homeostasis was found to be disturbed in asphalt workers. The novel test used in this study may be useful for evaluating the oxidative status in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure.

Determination of oxolinic acid residues in the muscle tissue of olive flounder (Paralichthysolivaceus) by a lateral flow immunoassay

ABSTRACT This study was designed to determine oxolinic acid (OA) residues in the muscle of olive flounder (Paralichthysolivaceus) by a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (UPLC–FLD). After 25 cultured olive flounder were treated by dipping in water dosed with OA (50 mg/L water for 1 h), muscle tissues were sampled and prepared for the detection of OA residues. The visual detection limit of the test strip for OA determined by the C/T ratio of 1 was 28 µg/kg of muscle. The detection limit of OA based on the standard curve was 4 and 1.6 µg/kg of muscle using LFIA and UPLC–FLD, respectively, and recoveries of all spiked samples by LFIA and UPLC–FLD were >96%. LFIA and UPLC–FLD showed good correlation (R2 > .9997) for a series of samples collected over 5 days post treatment. The LFIA is applicable to the detection of OA in the muscle tissue of farmed fish, and is an effective and economical method that will enable high-throughput screening. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Effects of occupational lead exposure on testosterone secretion

This study aims the determination of the relationship between blood lead levels (BLL) and reproductive hormones in workers with occupational lead (Pb) exposure. 58 workers who visited Ankara Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hospital between 2013 and 2017 and had a BLL of > 5 μg/dL and no infertility problem, were included in the study as the case group. The workers who have a chronic disease and use prescribed or herbal medicine were excluded. 63 healthy office workers with no heavy metal exposure at the workplace were selected as the control group. BLL, total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), uric acid, creatinine, complete blood count (CBC), prolactin (PRL), follicle stimulant hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were examined and the occupational anamnesis of the workers were taken. As a percentage, 47.9 % (n=58) of 121 persons (all males) was the study group with Pb exposure and 52.1 % (n=63) were the control group. While the BLL was 34,20 μg/dL in the exposed group, it was 1,82 μg/dL in the control group (p

Occupational exposure to asphalt fume can cause oxidative DNA damage among road paving workers

OBJECTIVES We designed the present study to determine the effect of occupational exposure to asphalt fumes on oxidative status and DNA damage in road paving workers. METHODS Sixty road paving workers exposed to asphalt fumes and forty non-exposed control subjects were recruited. Occupational exposure to PAHs was assessed by urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) excretion. Serum thiol disulfide homeostasis (TDH), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and urinary 8-hydro-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) level were evaluated by automated colourimetric method. RESULTS The urinary concentrations of 1-OHP and 8-OH-dG were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Disulfide/thiol ratio, TOS, and TAS were also significantly higher for the asphalt workers. A positive correlation existed between urinary 1-OHP and 8-OH-dG, TOS and TAS. CONCLUSION Study results indicate that exposure to PAHs induces oxidative stress and causes genotoxic effects in asphalt workers.