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Welding, a fabrication process that joins metals or thermoplastics by causing coalescence, is indispensable in modern society and ubiquitous in industry. Welding generates fumes that contain several metals and gases that comprise fine and ultrafine particles with the potential for adverse effects. Although health risks of welders have been evaluated in different populations, occupational exposure to welding fumes is still considered to be an important health problem, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of welding fume exposure on important oxidative stress parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), total glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in Turkish welders ( n = 48). The influence of confounding factors such as age, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and duration of exposure on the studied parameters was also analyzed. In our study, significant decreases in the levels of GSH and activities of CAT, SOD, and GPx and significant increases of MDA, 8-OHdG levels and GR activity were found in the workers compared to the controls. There was a negative correlation between GSH levels and alcohol usage. Also, older workers (≥35 years) had significantly higher GR levels than younger workers. But smoking and alcohol usage, duration of exposure, and utilization of protective measures had no significant effect on the studied parameters in the workers. These results indicate that occupational exposure to welding fumes appears to induce oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a great threat to public health and has caused concern due to its fatal consequences over the last few years. Most people with COVID-19 show mild-to-moderate symptoms and recover without the need for special treatment, while others become seriously ill and need medical attention. Additionally, some serious outcomes, such as heart attacks and even stroke, have been later reported in patients who had recovered. There are limited studies on how SARS-CoV-2 infection affects some molecular pathways, including oxidative stress and DNA damage. In this study, we aimed to evaluate DNA damage, using the alkaline comet assay, and its relationship with oxidative stress and immune response parameters in COVID-19-positive patients. Our results show that DNA damage, oxidative stress parameters and cytokine levels significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients when compared with healthy controls. The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on DNA damage, oxidative stress and immune responses may be crucial in the pathophysiology of the disease. It is suggested that the illumination of these pathways will contribute to the development of clinical treatments and to reduce adverse effects in the future.

To our knowledge, present study is first to examine oxidative stress and genotoxic parameters in patients with WRA. There is limited number of studies about silicosis. Both parameters were found to be statistically significantly higher in exposure, WRA, silicosis groups. Our study results shed light on mechanisms of two diseases.

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