Sulphur dioxide and trioxide vapors are currently emitted from the superphosphate factory in Mankabad, Assuit Province with the possibility of environmental pollution thought the limits of these vapors in the factory may be within the permissible authorized limits. So the present work aimed to elucidate the effects of exposure of these vapors and other related sulphur compounds on fasting blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide , Zinc levels and serum alkaline phosphatase among the workers joining this factory and as a preliminary study aiming a detailed follow-up program concerning detection of any metabolic disturbances or environmental pollution diseases that could possibly be developed.
Twenty-eight male workers were recruited from the workers among the Superphosphate Factory in Mankabad, Assuit Province. They were chosen on the basis of being continuously exposed to sulphur dioxide and related sulphur compounds during their daily working hours and representing all the areas of the factory. Their ages ranged between 26 and 55 years with mean SD ( 38.64 6.2). In addition, 84% of them are exposed for 10 years or more. The control group compromised 14 healthy males that were selected to match as nearly as possible the exposed group in age and socioeconomic class. They have no history of potential exposure to this type of environmental pollution. Their ages ranges between 27 and 50 years with mean SD (39.04 6.2).
From each participant fresh serum samples were used for estimation of fasting blood glucose. In addition serum insulin , C-peptide , Zinc levels and serum alkaline phosphatase were also estimated. Statistical comparison revealed that the workers of the exposed group had mean SD fasting blood glucose levels that were significantly higher than those of control (P<0.001) (mean SD of exposed group 11.3 15.99 mg/dl) and that of the control was (73.5 5.854mg/dl). The mean SD serum insulin concentration for the control group was (12.43 4.24 uU/ml), while that for the exposed group was (16.36 0.89 uU/ml) and proved to be significantly higher than that of control (P<0.001) . The mean SD of C-peptide for the control group was (1.057 1.308 ng/ml), while that for the exposed group was (1.967 1.472 uU/ml) and proved to be significantly higher than that of control (P<0.02) . Furthermore, in every individual of the exposed group, the level of serum zinc was raised and the mean SD was (118.93 2.12 ug/d)l which is significantly higher than that of the control group (mean SD was 84.78 8.604 ug/dl) and p<0.001. It is noteworthy to emphasize that all the workers studied showed serum alkaline phosphatase levels (mean SD 99.95 16.93 Iu/L) higher than that reported for control (mean SD 65.7 17.7Iu/L) and p<0.001, an index pointing to sort of biochemical hepatic dysfunction. Thus, individuals of the exposed group appear to have a sort of hyperglycemia associated with abnormal hyperinsulinaemia in reference to control, although their insulin levels and C-peptide are within the international official ones (up to 25 and 5 ng/ml).