Salivary antioxidant biomarkers in non-ferrous metals mine workers--a pilot study.

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the relationships between occupational exposure to mine dust, salivary antioxidants and their possible implications in the pathogenicity of different exposure diseases.

Material And Methods: We studied 30 individuals with long-term occupational exposure to non-ferrous metal mine conditions and a control group consisted of 30 healthy volunteers. Salivary uric acid, gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), albumin and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured.

Results: Statistically significant differences in salivary GGT (P = 0.004), TAC (P < 0.001) and uric acid (P = 0.02) were noted between the two groups. A strong positive correlation between TAC and uric acid was recorded in controls (r = 0.76, P = 0.0002).

Conclusions: Saliva may provide an important line of antioxidant defense in humans exposed to oxidant threats. These components may also serve as convenient biomarkers to monitor oxidant exposure.