Chronic exposure to emissions from photocopiers in copy shops causes oxidative stress and systematic inflammation among photocopier operators in India

Environmental Health

Research

Jeyanthi Govindasamy Poornima¹  Nithya Elango¹  Vallikkannu Kasi¹  Bhuvaneswari Vembhu¹ 

[1] Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India;

关键词: Photocopiers;    Particulate matter;    Biomarkers;    Lung function;    Occupational exposure;    Toner;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1476-069X-12-78

 received in 2013-03-18, accepted in 2013-08-30,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWe assessed indoor air quality in photocopier centers and investigated whether occupational exposure to emissions from photocopiers is associated with decline in lung function or changes in haematological parameters, oxidative stress and inflammatory status.MethodsIndoor air quality was monitored in five photocopier centers. Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry in 81 photocopier operators (64 male and 17 female) and 43 healthy control (31 male and 12 female) subjects. Hematological status, serum thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAC), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), 8-isoprostane, C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 8 (IL-8), clara cell protein (CC-16), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) were analyzed. Relationships between cumulative exposure, lung function and inflammatory markers were assessed.ResultsPM10 and PM2.5 were above the permissible levels in all the photocopier centers, whereas the levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulphur dioxide, lead, arsenic, nickel, ammonia, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene were within Indian ambient air quality standards. Lung function was similar in the photocopier operators and control subjects. Serum TBARS was significantly higher and FRAC was lower among photocopier operators when compared to healthy controls. Plasma IL-8, LTB4, ICAM-1 and ECP were significantly higher in the photocopier exposed group.ConclusionsPhotocopiers emit high levels of particulate matter. Long term exposure to emissions from photocopiers was not associated with decreased lung function, but resulted in high oxidative stress and systemic inflammation leading to high risk of cardiovascular diseases.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Elango et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013