Assessing risks of functional disorders of hepatobiliary system in workers employed at butyl rubber production allowing for analysis of the ogg1 gene polymorphic variant rs1052133

Abstract

Contemporary petrochemical productions maintain strict control over contents of adverse chemicals in workplace air. Despite that, the chemical factor remains one of the major harmful occupational factors and can produce adverse effects on workers’ health by increasing, among other things, risks of general somatic diseases. Given that, prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in workers employed at chemical productions remains a vital challenge for occupational medicine. A way to tackle it is to timely detect risk groups relying on, among other things, analysis of workers’ genetic peculiarities. This article presents a study with 140 volunteers participating in it; they had basic occupations required at contemporary butyl rubber production. It was conducted within a periodical medical examination that involved using up-to-date hygienic, clinical-laboratory and genetic methods. The study included hygienic assessment of the chemical factor at the analyzed production, examination of hematologic and biochemical blood indicators, identification of workers’ genetic status as per the rs1052133 polymorphic variant of the OGG1 gene and the severity of DNA breaks. The study revealed adverse effects produced by the chemical factors on health of workers with basic occupations based on deviations in biochemical blood indicators obtained by tests that included indicator enzyme identification, and DNA damage. Following the study results, a risk group was created as per the state of the hepatobiliary system. To preserve workers’ health, it is necessary to implement certain preventive measures that include providing safe working conditions as regards the chemical factor, timely detection of risk groups and rehabilitation activities.