Three Day Environmental Exposure May Trigger Oxidative Stress Development and Provoke Adaptive Response Resulting in Altered Antioxidant Activity

Background: we aimed to investigate the polluted working environment triggers oxidative stress and alter enzymatic antioxidant activity by a short-term interval. methods: the experimental study, performed in 2014, involved 94 workers from the velenje coalmine in slovenia, arranged into three groups according to a number of consecutive working days in a mineshaft, supported by a control group. levels of the antioxidant enzymes (gpx, cat, sod) together with tac (the combined effect of all antioxidants) and 8-isoprostane (a biological marker of oxidative stress/damage) were measured in human plasma. results: workers occupationally exposed for three consecutive working days had significantly increased 8-isoprostane biomarker, a parameter of oxidative stress (p<0.001). the antioxidant levels of tac (p<0.001), cat (p<0.001) and sod (p<0.001) were all significantly decreased compared to a control group. conclusion: workers in polluted working environment had significantly increased oxidative stress and altered antioxidant activity already on a third consecutive working day.