Oxidative stress in subjects occupationally exposed to microwave radiation

Abstract

Reaktivne kisikove spojeve (ROS) povezujemo s nastankom oksidacijskog stresa koji oštećuje stanične makromolekule te se pri tome dovodi u vezu s različitim bolestima. Faktori koji dovode do stvaranja ROS-ova brojni su i različiti. Promjene u koncentracijama malondialdehida (MDA), protein-karbonila i glutationa (GSH) samo su neki od indikatora koji ukazuju na oksidacijski stres. Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati postoji li značajna razlika u koncentraciji spomenutih indikatora oksidacijskog stresa kod osoba profesionalno izloženih mikrovalnom zračenju. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorcima pune krvi osoba koje su profesionalno izložene mikrovalnom zračenju radara frekvencije 1,5 GHz do 10,9 GHz, gustoće snage električnog polja od 10 μW/cm2 do 10 mW/cm2, dok su kontrolnu skupinu činili zaposlenici Instituta za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada. Koncentracije GSH i protein-karbonila izmjerene su spektrofotometrijskom metodom, dok je za mjerenje MDA korištena HPLC tehnika. Dobivene koncentracije izražene su u odnosu na koncentraciju ukupnih proteina, a razlika između kontrolne i izložene skupine prikazana je pomoću Student t-testa za nezavisne uzorke. Statističkom obradom podataka uočeno je da postoji značajna razlika u vrijednosti koncentracija GSH i MDA između izložene i kontrolne skupine, dok kod oksidiranih proteina ta razlika nije uočena. Dobiveni rezultati upućuju na moguću vezu između mikrovalnog zračenja i nastanka ROS-ova te pojavu oksidacijskog stresa.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with development of oxidative stress that damages cellular macromolecules and are often set in connection with various diseases. Various and many factors lead to formation of ROS. Changes in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl and glutathione (GSH) are just some of the indicators that point to oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a significant difference in the concentration of the referred indicators of oxidative stress in subjects occupationally exposed to microwave radiation. Research was conducted on the samples of whole blood of subjects occupationally exposed to microwave radiation of radar frequency range of 1,5 GHz to 10,9 GHz, within microwave field of 10 μW/cm2 to 10 mW/cm2, while the control group was made of employees of Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health. Concentrations of GSH and protein carbonyls were measured by spectrophotometric method, while MDA concentrations were measured using HPLC technique. Gained concentrations were in reference to the concentration of total protein, and the difference between control and exposed group was shown by Student's t-test for independent samples. Statistical analysis shown significant difference in the values of GSH and MDA concentrations between exposed and control group, while the difference among protein carbonyls were not observed. These results indicate a possible link between microwave radiation and the formation of ROS and the appearance of oxidative stress