Health Effects of Environmental Pollutants on Workers in The Libyan Plastic Factories, Part A: Based on Biochemical Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to disclose the reasons for the health damage and heritable genetic mutations among workers in plastic manufactories due to negative environmental impacts. Moreover, this study may constitute an initial database expressing the negative impact on the environment in the plastics factories that may have a negative impact on workers. To study the effects of long-term exposure to plastic and its solvent vapors during plastic manifesting on the blood protein contents, blood samples were withdrawn from volunteers working in a plastics factory in Kasr Alakhyar City, North-west Libya. Six different samples were collected from Clarkes exposed to plastic vapor for different periods as follows, control (did not expose to plastic vapor), one-year exposure, three years exposure, six years exposure, seven years exposure, and twelve years exposure. Blood samples were collected and subjected to protein electrophoresis and isoenzymes analysis for esterase and peroxidase. The results of protein electrophoresis indicated that a total number of 14 protein bands were resolved on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis ranging from 16.5 KDa to 105 KDa. Five bands out of the resulted from 14 bands were considered common bands with molecular weights of 105, 98, 85, 63, and 16.5 KDa. (i.e. these bands were presented in all the six blood samples under investigation). The results also showed that too many changes were recorded in the protein banding patterns between the control volunteer and those who were exposed to plastic and its solvents vapor for different exposure periods. These changes in proteins suggested that a modification in gene excretion occurred as a response to the different exposure times to plastic during manifesting. Also, in esterase and peroxidase isozymes changes in the banding patterns between the control volunteer and those who were exposed to plastic and its solvents vapor for different exposure periods. These changes in proteins suggested that a modification in gene excretion occurred in the genes conferring these isozymes as a response to the different exposure periods to plastic during manifesting.