This study was to investigate whether working in conditions of elevated concentrations of mine gases (CO2, CO, CH4, DMS) and dust may result in oxidative stress. Coal miners (n=94) from the Velenje Coal mine who were arranged into control group and three groups according to a number of consecutive working days. 8-isoprostane as a biological marker of oxidative stress was measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Miners who worked for three consecutive days had higher 8-isoprostane values in EBC compared to the control group. Gas/dust concentrations and exposure time of a single/two day shift seem too low to trigger immediate oxidative stress.
Adult ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Breath Tests ; Coal ; adverse effects ; Coal Mining ; manpower ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Miners ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress