ERYTHROCYTE ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN COAL-MINERS FROM 3 FRENCH REGIONS

This study investigated whether differences in the prevalence and seve rity of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) between three coal mines co uld be related to differences in oxidative stress exposure as evaluate d in vivo through red-blood-cell antioxidant enzyme activities. Blood samples were obtained from 229 miners selected according to their occu pation and their pneumoconiotic status. The following biomarkers were evaluated: erythrocyte catalase, Cu2+/Zn2+ superoxide dismutase (Cu2+/ Zn2+ SOD), and glutathione peroxidase activities. Antioxidant enzyme a ctivities did not differ significantly between the group of surface wo rkers in Lorraine and the group of underground miners without CWP in L orraine and in the other coal mines. Erythrocyte Cu2+/Zn2+ SOD activit y was slightly decreased in the group of active underground miners wit h simple pneumoconiosis as compared with the group of miners without C WP in Nord/Pas-de-Calais. No effect was seen between retired miners at different stages of CWP. Our findings indicate that differences in th e prevalence and severity of CWP do not seem to be related to various oxidative activities of coal dust particles, at least as reflected by measurements of antioxidant enzyme activities in circulating erythrocy tes in this study.