The relationship between occupational exposure and different skin diseases including scalp psoriasis and
Pityriasis amiantacea
has been studied. The information about imbalance of essential trace ...elements in psoriatic patients is still scarce. In the present follow-up study, the scalp hair and blood samples of patients (labors of cement factory) have different skin disorders (plaque’s psoriasis and
Pityriasis amiantacea
) and were analyzed for zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) before and after treatment with mineral supplements. For comparative purposes, both biological samples of referents who do not have any skin disease (office workers and labors of cement industry) were also analyzed for Zn and Se using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The result indicates a significant decrease in the concentrations of Se and Zn in both biological samples of patients with scalp psoriasis and
P. amiantacea
as compared with referents/controls, whereas the referent labor has not any skin disease with 15–25% lower values of both essential trace elements as compared to office worker, possibly due to poor diet.
Psoriasis, a skin inflammatory disease, originates from dysregulated interactions of the immune system and environmental factors. In the present study, cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in ...biological samples (blood and scalp hair) of smoker and nonsmoker males who have mild and severe psoriasis. The patients were evaluated according to criteria based on the standard clinical diagnosis and classified into mild and severe psoriasis groups using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. Both elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after matrix oxidation. In smoker psoriatic patients, the level of Cd in biological samples was significantly increased. The Zn was significantly decreased in smoker mild and severe psoriatic patients as related to nonsmokers’ referents and patients. The resulted data indicated that the levels of Zn in smoker referents were about 5.0% lower than nonsmoker’s referents. While the concentrations of Zn in blood samples of nonsmoker’s mild and severe psoriatic patients have 17.8 to 33.3% lower than nonsmoker’s referents. The results indicate that the level of Cd in blood samples of referent smokers has ≥ 25% than nonsmokers, whereas the psoriatic patients at different stages have two- to threefold higher Cd in both biological samples.
It has been extensively investigated that the chewing of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products may enhance the inflammation of the oral cavity. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship ...between nickel (Ni) exposure via different SLT products with oral cancer (different sites) incidence in the population of Sindh, Pakistan. The different brands of SLT products (mainpuri, gutkha, and moist snuff) commonly consumed by the studied population were analyzed for Ni contents. The biological samples of oral cancer patients and noncancerous control subjects of both genders, who have or have not consumed SLT products, were collected. The concentration of Ni in biological samples and SLT products were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by using certified reference materials. The results of this study showed that the Ni level was significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of oral cancer patients compared to controls (P < 0.01). The study suggested that exposure of Ni as a result of chewing different SLT products may be synergistic with risk factors associated with oral cancer.
The determination of essential trace and toxic elements in the biological samples of human beings is an important clinical screening procedure. This study aimed to assess the possible effects of ...environmental exposure on paralysed male workers (n = 75) belonging to the production and quality control departments of a steel mill. In this investigation, the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese and zinc were determined in biological samples (blood, urine and scalp hair samples) of exposed paralysis and non-paralysed steel mill workers. For comparative purposes, unexposed healthy subjects of same age group were selected as referents. The elements in the biological samples were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity of the methodology was checked by the biological certified reference materials. The results indicate that the level understudy elements in all three biological samples were significantly higher in paralysed workers of both groups (quality control and production) as compared to referents (p < 0.01). The possible connection of these elements with the aetiology of disease is discussed. The results also show the need for immediate improvements of workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.
It has been extensively reported that chewing of smokeless tobacco (SLT) can lead to cancers of oral cavity. In present study, the relationship between arsenic (As) exposure via chewing/inhaling ...different SLT products in oral cancer patients have or/not consumed SLT products was studied. The As in different types of SLT products (gutkha, mainpuri, and snuff) and biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of different types of oral cancer patients and controls were analyzed. Both controls and oral cancer patients have same age group (ranged 30–60 years), socio-economic status, localities, and dietary habits. The concentrations of As in SLT products and biological samples were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by certified reference materials. The resulted data of present study indicates that the concentration of As was significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of oral cancer patients than those of controls (p < 0.001). It was also observed that the values of As were two- to threefolds higher in biological samples of controls subjects, consuming SLT products as compared to those have none of these habits (p > 0.01). The intake of As via consuming different SLT may have synergistic effects, in addition to other risk factors associated with oral cancer.
