Background: The Platinum mining operations in South Africa mining platinum containing ore from areas where variable amounts of uranium are found, leading to the possibility of occupational exposure to the radioactive disintegration products of Uranium-238 and in particular the gas Radon-222. No scientific data is available for occupational exposure to Radon-222 in South African platinum mining operations. Objective: To determine the risk of occupational exposure to the radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in a South African platinum mine. Design: Quantitative sampling (personal and static) to establish baseline data on exposure to radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in a underground South African platinum mine. Setting: The Bafokeng Rasimone platinum mine located 30 km North West of Rustenburg in the Bushveld complex in the North West Province of South Africa. Study subjects: One hundred and seventy four potentially highest exposed underground employees and one hundred and twelve static underground samples were sampled. Method: Personal and area samples were taken on selected employees and in locations using RGM samplers using CR-39 plastic as a detection medium. Employees were selected to sample the highest exposed occupations and static samples were located to sample returning air from levels underneath the sampling point before it is exhausted to the above ground atmosphere. After analysis by an accredited laboratory, the results were converted to exposure following the National Council on Radiation Protection-78 methodology. Main outcome measures: Quantify the relative risks of potentially highest exposed employee`s exposure to the radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in underground working areas in milliSievert per year. Results: The mean reference background exposure averaged 0.6168 mSv/a with underground personal exposure averaging 0.6808 mSv/a, and underground static exposure averaging 0.8726 mSv/a. These values are substantially below the 50 mSv/a Occupational Exposure Limit, and only pose a slightly elevated risk for the development of lung cancer above the normal back-ground exposure. Mining Team leaders and rock drill operators were identified as the potentially highest exposed employees due to the close proximity to the working face, large amounts of time spent close to the working face and the lower ventilation volumes at the working face, with Team leaders having the highest exposure of the sampled occupations with a average of 1.16 mSv/a. Conclusions: Occupational exposure to radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in the underground air of a South African platinum mine does not pose a significant risk to the health of employees working in the platinum mine. / Thesis (MSc (Occupational Hygiene))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Background: The Platinum mining operations in South Africa mining platinum containing ore from areas where variable amounts of uranium are found, leading to the possibility of occupational exposure to the radioactive disintegration products of Uranium-238 and in particular the gas Radon-222. No scientific data is available for occupational exposure to Radon-222 in South African platinum mining operations. Objective: To determine the risk of occupational exposure to the radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in a South African platinum mine. Design: Quantitative sampling (personal and static) to establish baseline data on exposure to radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in a underground South African platinum mine. Setting: The Bafokeng Rasimone platinum mine located 30 km North West of Rustenburg in the Bushveld complex in the North West Province of South Africa. Study subjects: One hundred and seventy four potentially highest exposed underground employees and one hundred and twelve static underground samples were sampled. Method: Personal and area samples were taken on selected employees and in locations using RGM samplers using CR-39 plastic as a detection medium. Employees were selected to sample the highest exposed occupations and static samples were located to sample returning air from levels underneath the sampling point before it is exhausted to the above ground atmosphere. After analysis by an accredited laboratory, the results were converted to exposure following the National Council on Radiation Protection-78 methodology. Main outcome measures: Quantify the relative risks of potentially highest exposed employee`s exposure to the radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in underground working areas in milliSievert per year. Results: The mean reference background exposure averaged 0.6168 mSv/a with underground personal exposure averaging 0.6808 mSv/a, and underground static exposure averaging 0.8726 mSv/a. These values are substantially below the 50 mSv/a Occupational Exposure Limit, and only pose a slightly elevated risk for the development of lung cancer above the normal back-ground exposure. Mining Team leaders and rock drill operators were identified as the potentially highest exposed employees due to the close proximity to the working face, large amounts of time spent close to the working face and the lower ventilation volumes at the working face, with Team leaders having the highest exposure of the sampled occupations with a average of 1.16 mSv/a. Conclusions: Occupational exposure to radioactive disintegration products of naturally occurring Radon-222 gas in the underground air of a South African platinum mine does not pose a significant risk to the health of employees working in the platinum mine. / Thesis (MSc (Occupational Hygiene))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The ever-changing industrial processes which are becoming more globalised as well as the merging of markets in different economies, led to an increased focus on the health and safety of workers in the industries and the mining sector over the past decades. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) have been used for more than half a century as a risk management tool for the prevention of work-related illnesses which may arise from the exposure to a wide variety of hazardous chemical substances in the working environment. Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse comparatively occupational exposure limits (OELs) of hazardous chemical substances from selected groups contained in the Hazardous Chemical Substance Regulations (HCSR) and the Mine Health and Safety Regulations (MHSR) with those of selected developed countries and organisations. Method: The two lists of OELs from South Africa – HCSR and MHSR – were compared with 11 different developed countries and/or organisations namely: Canada (British Colombia), United Kingdom (Health and Safety Executive, HSE), Australia (National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, NOHSC), New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), Japan (Japan Society for Occupational Health, JSOH), Finland (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health), Germany (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft-DFG), Sweden (Swedish Work Environment Authority) and United States of America (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, ACGIH, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH). The selection of these countries and organisations was done on the basis of their dominance in the literature as well as the availability of the lists containing OELs. The OELs from each country and/or organisation, depending on the nature and characteristics of the said element and/or compound, were categorised into one of four groups, namely: pesticides, metals, dusts and fibres. The geometric means of each country and/or organisation were calculated from the ratios of each list by using the HCSR and MHSR as the denominator respectively. Results: It became evident that South Africa performed poorly when compared to other countries and/or organisations, indicated in this study. OSHA overall had the highest set OELs, in five out of the six comparisons that could be made, thus being less stringent than South Africa’s. Countries and organisations such as Sweden, Japan and Finland have the lowest overall set OELs for the different groups respectively. Conclusion: South African OELs legislated by both the HCSR and MHSR, are overall higher (less stringent) when compared to those of developed countries and/or organisations. The less stringent nature of South African OELs may be attributed to infrequent rate at which they are updated. The failure to incorporate recent scientific knowledge into OELs may impact on the health of workers. South Africa should follow international best practice and increase the frequency at which OELs are updated. Recommendations: The effectiveness of having two sets of OELs within a country; each applicable to its own industry should be investigated. Attention with regards to the groups lacking attention, i.e. fibres and pesticides should be given priority when revised. Although the other groups should not be disregarded. Duplicate OELs identified in the HCSR should be removed. To prevent duplicate OELs from being established it would be prudent to utilise CAS numbers when referring to substances in addition to their common and chemical names, thus this supports the recommendations made in an earlier study. / MSc (Occupational Hygiene), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The ever-changing industrial processes which are becoming more globalised as well as the merging of markets in different economies, led to an increased focus on the health and safety of workers in the industries and the mining sector over the past decades. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) have been used for more than half a century as a risk management tool for the prevention of work-related illnesses which may arise from the exposure to a wide variety of hazardous chemical substances in the working environment. Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse comparatively occupational exposure limits (OELs) of hazardous chemical substances from selected groups contained in the Hazardous Chemical Substance Regulations (HCSR) and the Mine Health and Safety Regulations (MHSR) with those of selected developed countries and organisations. Method: The two lists of OELs from South Africa – HCSR and MHSR – were compared with 11 different developed countries and/or organisations namely: Canada (British Colombia), United Kingdom (Health and Safety Executive, HSE), Australia (National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, NOHSC), New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), Japan (Japan Society for Occupational Health, JSOH), Finland (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health), Germany (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft-DFG), Sweden (Swedish Work Environment Authority) and United States of America (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, ACGIH, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH). The selection of these countries and organisations was done on the basis of their dominance in the literature as well as the availability of the lists containing OELs. The OELs from each country and/or organisation, depending on the nature and characteristics of the said element and/or compound, were categorised into one of four groups, namely: pesticides, metals, dusts and fibres. The geometric means of each country and/or organisation were calculated from the ratios of each list by using the HCSR and MHSR as the denominator respectively. Results: It became evident that South Africa performed poorly when compared to other countries and/or organisations, indicated in this study. OSHA overall had the highest set OELs, in five out of the six comparisons that could be made, thus being less stringent than South Africa’s. Countries and organisations such as Sweden, Japan and Finland have the lowest overall set OELs for the different groups respectively. Conclusion: South African OELs legislated by both the HCSR and MHSR, are overall higher (less stringent) when compared to those of developed countries and/or organisations. The less stringent nature of South African OELs may be attributed to infrequent rate at which they are updated. The failure to incorporate recent scientific knowledge into OELs may impact on the health of workers. South Africa should follow international best practice and increase the frequency at which OELs are updated. Recommendations: The effectiveness of having two sets of OELs within a country; each applicable to its own industry should be investigated. Attention with regards to the groups lacking attention, i.e. fibres and pesticides should be given priority when revised. Although the other groups should not be disregarded. Duplicate OELs identified in the HCSR should be removed. To prevent duplicate OELs from being established it would be prudent to utilise CAS numbers when referring to substances in addition to their common and chemical names, thus this supports the recommendations made in an earlier study. / MSc (Occupational Hygiene), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

No description available.

Motivation: The investigation of agricultural respiratory hazards has lagged behind the investigation of hazards in mining and other heavy industries. Relatively few epidemiological data are available addressing pulmonary infections in the context of the agricultural work environment, especially for the South African population. Poultry house dust was generally considered nuisance or inert, meaning it has little adverse effect on human lungs. New research shows that because poultry house dust is largely organic and contain bacteria and other bioactive substances, it cannot be considered inert. Several published research manuscripts document that the legal and recommended exposure limits for the toxic substances found in the agricultural environment are to high for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO's). In CAFO's there is a mixture of biologically active agents that can work synergistic to produce respiratory and systemic effects at much lower levels. Most of the current legal exposure limits used in South Africa are adopted from international limits and guidelines. Because of the influence of geography, climate and degree of industrialisation on the agricultural air quality, the relevance of the foreign exposure limits is questionable. Aim: To determine if there is a correlation between occupational exposure to poultry farm dust and the lung function of poultry farm workers in the Potchefstroom district, South Africa. Also to determine if the current legal exposure limits used for ammonia and particulate matter (PM) in South Africa, offer adequate worker protection for poultry farm workers exposed to biologically active dust. Methodology: This was an observational, cross-sectional pilot study. A target population of fifty contract workers concerned with the removal and disposal of poultry manure were identified in the Potchefstroom district and a random sample of nineteen was drawn for participation in this study. Exposure to total and respirable dust were determined by means of personal sampling for the full duration of the time averaging period (8-hour TWA). Area monitoring for ammonia and bio-aerosols were done in poultry houses in three specific demarcated areas around Potchefstroom, and weather conditions were taken into account. Lung function tests (spirometry) were conducted before and after each work shift. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to assess occupational and exposure histories and to detect symptoms of organic dust exposure. Results and conclusions: The mean total- and respirable dust concentrations complied with the legal limits of OSHA, NlOSH and the Regulations for hazardous chemical substances of 1995. However, fifty five percent of the measured total dust concentrations and all of the respirable dust measurements exceeded Donham's recommended values for human health. The spirometric values of the subjects were normal; there was no statistical difference between the mean baseline FEV1/FVC and the mean predicted FEV1/FVC. Results also show no statistically significant cross shift changes in any of the measured variables and there is no significant correlation of the measured dust concentrations to any of the spirometric measurements. It can be concluded that occupational exposure to ammonia, particulate matter and micro-organisms on poultry farms in the Potchefsroom district, South Africa, do not have any adverse effects on the workers' lung function and the workers are adequately protected in the short term, by the legal limits that are currently used in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Occupational Hygiene))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Aims: To study practices and procedures with respect to electrotherapy in physiotherapy departments and to study physiotherapists’ perception of health risk, health consequences and protection of health from different risks including electromagnetic field emissions from electrotherapy devices. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three phases from June 2002 to December 2003. The first phase was an audit of the practices and procedures regarding electrotherapy in National Health Service physiotherapy departments (N = 46 including 7 departments in pilot study) located in 12 counties in the southeast and southwest of England including Greater London. The second phase comprised one observational visit to each of the same physiotherapy departments to characterise their occupational environment. The third phase was a questionnaire survey of 584 physiotherapists working in these departments. Variables concerned perception of health risk, health consequences and protection of health associated with different risk factors. Results: In the first two phases, the recruitment rate of the departments was 80.7% (46 out of 57) and response rate of those recruited was 100% (n=46). The response rate for the last phase of the study was 66.8% (390 out of 584). Results of the practices and procedures audit show that ultrasound was the most common form of electrotherapy while microwave diathermy was neither available nor used in these departments. Pulsed shortwave diathermy was used 4-5 days per week while continuous shortwave diathermy was used rarely. Electrotherapy was provided to up to 50% of patients per week in the departments. The observational visits to the departments revealed that there were metallic objects within close proximity of diathermy equipment and wooden treatment couches for treatment with PSWD and CSWD were rare. The risk perception survey showed that physiotherapists generally perceived a moderate health risk and health consequences (harm) from exposure to EMF emissions from electrotherapy devices. Protection from EMFs in physiotherapy departments was generally perceived as ‘usually’ possible. Conclusions: Physiotherapy departments report safe electrotherapy practices. Use of diathermy devices that use RF EMFs is declining. The key predictors of physiotherapists’ perception of health risk were perception of health consequences and vice versa. Gender was a significant predictor of the perception of health risks and health consequences. The main predictor of perception of protection against risk was the knowledge of environmental and health issues. Latent dimensions of perceptions of health risk, health consequences and protection from risk were identified and confirmed and their predictors were determined.

Os agentes físicos e químicos presentes nos ambientes de trabalho podem colocar a saúde dos colaboradores em risco. A radiação ionizante é um dos agentes físicos aos quais os trabalhadores podem estar expostos. Esta radiação possui energia superior à energia de ligação dos elétrons e, desta forma, pode causar a ionização de moléculas, ou seja, causar o rompimento das ligações moleculares. A exposição de tecidos vivos a este agente pode provocar mutações genéticas nas células e a doença mais comum que pode ocorrer é o câncer. Grande parte da exposição à radiação ionizante ocorre devido à presença de radônio nos ambientes de trabalho. Ambientes de mineração são mais suscetíveis a conter este gás pois ele é emanado a partir do solo ou das rochas, principalmente quando há cominuição destes materiais. Para identificar a condição perigosa e propor medidas de controle desta exposição, é necessário que seja aplicada uma metodologia para fazer um levantamento qualitativo e quantitativo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar uma proposta de medição, além de avaliar o risco de exposição a este gás. O estudo foi realizado em ambientes de mineração, mais especificamente nos postos de trabalho onde foi identificado que a exposição ao agente pode ser maior. As amostragens foram realizadas utilizando o equipamento RadonMapper e os resultados foram analisados e correlacionados. Foi observado que há correlação estatística no método utilizado, também pôde ser observado que as gerências dos locais em que as amostragens foram realizadas desconheciam a possibilidade de exposição ao este gás. Também foi possível indicar que em ambientes abertos, o risco da exposição a este gás é baixo. Desta forma, conclui-se que os objetivos desta dissertação foram atingidos. / Physical and chemical agents in work environments can be a risk for the health of employees. The ionizing radiation is one of the physical agents to which the workers can be exposed. This radiation have more energy than the binding of electrons and, in this way, can cause the ionization of molecules, which is to cause the molecular connections to break. The exposure of living tissue to this agent can cause genetic mutations in them and the most common disease that can occur is cancer. Much of the exposure to ionizing radiation occurs because of the presence of radon in the workplace. Mining environments are more susceptible to contain this gas because it is emanated from soil or rocks. To identify the risk and propose measures to control this exposure, it is necessary to apply a methodology to make a qualitative and quantitative analysis, this is the objective of this study, in addition to assessing the risk of exposure to this gas. The study was conducted in mining environments, more specifically in the workplace where it was identified that exposure to the agent may be higher. Samplings were performed using the RadonMapper equipment and the results were analyzed and correlated. The results indicated that there is statistical correlation in the method used, it could also be observed that the management of the locations where the samples were taken did not know the possibility of exposure to this gas. It was also possible to indicate that in open environments, the risk of exposure to this gas is low. In this way, it is concluded that the objectives of this study have been achieved.

O chumbo (Pb) é um metal tóxico e promove diversos efeitos adversos no organismo que incluem distúrbios neurológicos, hematopoiéticos, esqueléticos, renais e cardiovasculares. A análise proteômica têm se tornado cada vez mais uma ferramenta importante na elucidação de mecanismos de toxicidade, bem como na identificação de potenciais biomarcadores. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar diferenças de abundância de proteínas plasmáticas em amostras de sangue coletadas de trabalhadores de uma fábrica de baterias automotivas, e de um grupo sem histórico de exposição ocupacional ao Pb. Pb no sangue total (Pb-S) foi determinado por espectrometria de massas com plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP-MS). Para a análise proteômica, o plasma foi separado do sangue total, seguido de depleção de albumina e imunoglobulina G (IgG) através de cromatografia de imunoafinidade. Em seguida, foi realizada digestão das proteínas com tripsina e os peptídeos foram analisados no sistema nanoACQUITY UPLC acoplado ao espectrômetro de massas em tandem SYNAPT® G2-Si HDMS. A identificação das proteínas foi realizada através do banco de dados SwissProt e as proteínas identificadas com pelo menos 3 peptídeos foram classificadas de acordo com o banco de dados do Gene Ontology (GO) e ranqueadas através de algoritmos de classificação utilizando a mineração de dados. A quantificação das proteínas foi realizada por label-free e foram consideradas proteínas com diferença de abundância aquelas com fold-change >=1,5 e p>0,05 através do teste t de Student. A média de Pb-S para os grupos expostos ocupacionalmente e sem histórico de exposição ocupacional foi de 43,7?g/dL e 0,386 ?g/dL, respectivamente. No total, 82 proteínas foram identificadas no plasma e apenas 4 proteínas apresentaram fold change >= 1,5, sendo elas: Apolipoproteína B-100 (APOB) e ?-II-antiplasmina (A2AP2), além de plasminogênio (PLMN) e gelsolina (GELS) cuja diferença de abundância entre os grupos foi significativa (p=0,036 e <0,01, respectivamente). As proteínas com diferença de abundância também foram classificadas entre as mais importantes para a diferenciação dos grupos através da mineração de dados. Assim, o presente estudo foi capaz de demonstrar diferenças de abundância em proteínas plasmáticas entre indivíduos com elevadas concentrações de Pb-S e com baixas concentrações de Pb-S, evidenciando possíveis novos mecanismos de toxicidade do metal. / Lead (Pb) is a toxic metal and may cause several adverse effects including neurological, hematopoietic, skeletal, renal and cardiovascular disorders. Proteomic analyses have become an important tool for the discovery of new mechanism of toxicity as well to identify potential new biomarkers of metal exposure, which may help in early detection of toxic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the plasma proteome of two groups: i) Pb-exposed workers and ii) a group with no occupational lead exposure history. Blood samples were collected for blood lead levels (BLL) determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and for proteomic analyses in plasma fraction. Plasma samples were separated from whole blood using centrifugation. Antibody-based affinity columns were used to deplete plasma fractions from albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Thereafter, proteins were digest with trypsin solution and peptide analyses were conducted using a nanoACQUITY UPLC System coupled to a SYNAPT® G2-Si tandem mass spectrometer. Identification of proteins were performed against SwissProt database and proteins identified by at least three peptides were classified according to the Gene Ontology terms (GO). In addition, identified proteins were ranked through classification algorithms by data mining analyses. Proteins quantitation was performed by label-free and only proteins with fold-change >=1.5 were considered differentially expressed. Mean BLL were 43.7?g/dL and 0.386 ?g/dL for occupational and non-occupational lead exposed groups, respectively. Eighty-two proteins were identified in the plasma samples out of which only four - plasminogen (PLMN), gelsolin (GELS), ?-II-anti-plasmin (A2AP2) and apolipoprotein B-100 (APOB) showed >=1.5 folds differential abundance. Differential abundances were confirmed for PLMN and GELS proteins (p=0.036 and <0.01, respectively). In conclusion, the present study indicated that the plasma proteome was a function of BLL in the individuals

De acordo com a ABIFA (Associação Brasileira de Indústrias de Fundição), a produção de metais não-ferrosos em março de 2006 no País foi de 279.353 toneladas, sendo que deste montante, a região de São Paulo responde por 77.011t, com 26.593 trabalhadores relacionados com a manufatura destes metais. Escumar, mexer, vazar, agitar, encher e outras operações associadas às fundições podem provocar a liberação de grandes quantidades de emanações. Assim podem ser liberadas no ambiente onde são usados metais derretidos, poeiras metálicas, que são pequenas partículas sólidas no ar, e fumos, partículas sólidas ainda menores. As inalações de fumos metálicos são mais perigosas que as das poeiras metálicas porque os fumos metálicos podem ser absorvidos mais facilmente pelos pulmões. As fundições de metais não ferrosos utilizam basicamente lingotes de latão (Cobre (Cu) Zinco (Zn)), nas quais os níveis de Cu variam de 68 a 98 %, e os de Zn de 2 -32 %, dependendo das características do latão. Além dos componentes primários da liga, aproximadamente 5 % da formulação contém outros metais, dentre eles: chumbo, cádmio, arsênio, estanho, ferro, fósforo, manganês e níquel. Uma vez que os trabalhadores nas fundições estão expostos a diversos compostos, é importante avaliar os níveis de lesões que possam refletir um efeito aditivo, sinérgico ou antagônico acarretado por esses compostos. No presente trabalho foram avaliados os níveis dos metais Pb, Cd, Mn e Ni no ar dos ambientes de trabalho, procurando correlacioná-los aos níveis destes metais no sangue e urina dos trabalhadores expostos em fundições de metais não ferrosos. Além disso, dois marcadores de dano oxidativo, o primeiro ao nível periférico MDA (malondialdeído) e o segundo ao intracelular DNA (8-oxo-7,8-dihidro-2\'-desoxiguanosina) foram eleitos como indicadores de efeito à exposição ocupacional. Os métodos analíticos propostos apresentaram-se sensíveis, precisos e exatos para as análises dos elementos no ar do ambiente de trabalho, como indicadores de dose interna e de efeito. As concentrações obtidas são consoantes a trabalhos populacionais com exposição a metais. A análise de dano oxidativo, no caso da exposição aos metais citados acima nestas empresas, permitiu investigar se essa exposição simultânea leva a danos biológicos mesmo no caso de os níveis isolados dos compostos estarem dentro dos limites de exposição considerados seguros. / According to ABIFA (Brazilian Foundry Producers Association), the total amount of non ferrous production in March 2006 was 279.353 tons, the São Paulo region respond per 77.011 tons, with 26.593 workers in this manufacture process. Mould, leak, melt, tune, clean and other foundry assembly line steps can release amounts of metal dust or fine particulate matter in the occupational setting. The metallic fume inhalation depends on the size of the particulate material, and this relates the toxicology profile. The non ferrous foundries raw material basically use brass alloys, mainly composed by Cu (cupper) 68 to 98 % and Zn (zinc) 2 32 % in formulation. Furthermore, other metals can be added as Pb (lead), Ni (nickel), Cd (cadmium) and manganese (Mn) to grant specific characteristic such as hardness and resistance to heat. Since the workers in foundries are exposed to various compounds, it is important to evaluate the levels of injury that may reflect an additive effect, synergistic or antagonistic caused by these compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the levels of two markers of oxidative damage, the first level peripheral MDA (malonaldehyde) and the second intracellular DNA (8-oxo-7 ,8-dihydro-2 \'-deoxyguanosine), trying to correlate them to levels of the metals Pb, Cd, Ni and Mn found in the blood and urine of workers exposed to non-ferrous metal smelters. The methods proposed showed to be sensitive, precise and accurate for the analysis of elements in the air of the workplace, as indicators of internal dose and effect. The concentrations obtained in population studies are consistent with exposure to metals. Analysis of oxidative damage in case of exposure to the metals mentioned above these companies allowed to investigate whether the simultaneous exposure leads to biological damage even if the levels of the compounds are isolated within the exposure limits considered safe.