Higher Disease Propensity of Dockyard Laborers in Bangladesh

Dockyard laborers are exposed to a variety of genotoxic compounds including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), noise, airborne particles etc. But no specific information is available regarding the effect of exposure to occupational hazards of this group of laborers in Bangladesh. Immunoglobulins, Trace Elements, Lipid peroxidation, Plasma antioxidant vitamins level (retinol, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid) and extent of DNA damage were analyzed in 100 dockyard laborers and compared with 100 control day laborers having similar socioeconomic status but not exposed to occupational hazards like dockyard laborers. The immunoglobulins levels varied significantly, the plasma MDA levels as well as extent of DNA damage were significantly higher whereas the plasma retinol and ascorbic acid levels were significantly lower in dockyard laborers than the control group (p>0.05) but the change in a-tocopherol level was not statistically significant (p<0.05). These results illustrate that dockyard laborers are exposed to genotoxic substances resulting in higher oxidative stress.