TOXIC EFFECTSOF CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO THE COMMONLY USED INHALED ANESTHETICS AMONG THE HEALTH CARE TEAM WORKING IN HOSPITALS OF QASSIM REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the toxic effects of chronic exposure of the commonly used inhaled anesthetics among health team members in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. The assessment of the toxic effects of inhaled anesthetics was focused on the liver, kidney, hematologic and immune systems. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 healthy operating room personnel chronically exposed to inhaled anesthetics and 60 healthy not exposed to inhaled anesthetics working in hospitals of Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. The health operating room personnel chronically exposed are divided into six equal subgroups (surgeon, surgeon assistants, anesthesiologist, anesthesiologist assistants, nurses and workers). Plasma Fluoride, Blood Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), Plasma Total Antioxidant Status, Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX) activity, Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity, Erythrocyte Catalase (CAT) Activity, Plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA), Complete blood counts, WBC subset counts, the total numbers of WBC, and leukocyte differential counts, Immunoglobulins, ABSTRACT 7 Interferon λ (IFN- λ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), Liver and kidney functions were performed investigated. Results: The results showed that there was a significance increase in level of plasma fluoride, HFIP, Plasma MDA, IgE, IgM, IgG, IgA, ALT, AST, ALP, Albumin, protein, IL-2, IL-4 and TNF-α in the Waste Anaesthetic Gases (WAGs) exposed groups compared with control group. Also the results showed that there was significance decrease in level of the oxidative stress biomarkers (GSH, CAT and SOD), number of white blood cells (WBC), number of red blood cells (RBC), percentage of lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes, percentage of hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), number of platelets and percentage of hemoglobin (Hgb) in the control group compared with WAGs exposed groups. In WAGs exposed groups the result showed that was a significance increase of plasma fluoride and HFIP in anesthesiologist and anesthesiologist assistants compared with other exposed group. A significance increase in level of MDA in surgeon group compared with other exposed group. A significance decrease in level of GSHPX, SOD and CAT in surgeon group compared with other exposed group. A significance decrease in level of RBC in both surgeon and anesthesiologist assistants compared with other exposed group. A significance decrease in number of WBC in both surgeon assistants and anesthesiologist assistants compared with other exposed group. A significance increase in level of IL-2 and IL-4 in both anesthesiologist and anesthesiologist assistants compared with other exposed group. A significance decrease in Hgb% in anesthesiologist, Nurses and Workers compared with other exposed group. A significance decrease in HCT% in both Nurses and Workers compared with other exposed group. A significance decrease in level of MCV, MCH, MCHC in Workers compared with other exposed group. A significance decrease in number of platelets in both surgeon and anesthesiologist compared with other exposed group. A significance increase in level of IgE in surgeon, Nurses and Workers compared with other Exposed group. A significance increase in level of IgM in surgeon, anesthesiologist and anesthesiologist assistants compared with other exposed group. A significance increase in level of IgG in surgeon assistants, anesthesiologist, anesthesiologist assistants and Workers compared with other exposed group. A significance increase in level of IgA in both anesthesiologist and anesthesiologist assistants compared with other exposed group. Conclusion: Our investigations have shown the exposure to anesthetic gases have a detrimental effect on the health of operating theater personnel and there is a relationship between the duration of exposure to anesthetic gases and the effect upon liver, kidney, immune and hematological systems.