Assessment of Sewage Workers’ Exposure to Hazardous Materials in Iraq

Background: Sewage workers, who maintain the sewage system and provide an essential service for public health protection, may come in direct contact with sewage hazards, which then may induce DNA damage and oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to assess the level of nitric oxide, homocysteine, 8-OHdG, and vitamins A & E in the plasma of sewage workers for different periods of exposure. Results: Nitric oxide, vitamin A, and vitamin E showed significant reduction in sewage workers when compared with a non-exposed control group. However, homocysteine and 8-OHdG levels were increased in sewage workers when compared with the non-exposed control group. Conclusions: Sewage workers are exposed, through different pathways, to a variety of toxicants that cause an increase in homocysteine. Homocysteine, in turn, increased the DNA oxidative damage by increasing the concentration of 8-OHdG and decreasing nitric oxide and vitamins E & A through a decrease in the antioxidant and an increase in oxidative damage. Key words: sewage hazards, nitric oxide, homocysteine, 8-OHdG, vitamins E & A