Biological monitoring of the ethylene oxide gas effects on medical utilities sterilization exposed staff

Chronic exposure to Ethylene Oxide (EtO) gas was suggested to be associated with many health hazards. This study was conducted on thirty one workers exposed to EtO gas in different production areas and classified into three groups; group I included seven workers with direct exposure, group II included thirteen workers with partial exposure and group III included eleven workers with indirect exposure. One group included 20 non exposed persons and served as a control group (group IV). All of them underwent analysis of complete blood count, T-lymphocytes subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8) by flowcytometery technique, serum IgG concentration by ELISA technique and p53 gene mutational changes. Platelet count was significantly reduced in all exposed groups. Both CD3% and CD4% were significantly decreased in group I and II (p?0.05, p?0.001) respectively. Also, the absolute value of T-helper lymphocytes was significantly reduced in group I and II (p?0.05). However, CD8% was significantly increased only in group III (p?0.05). A significant elevated value of total IgG was found in group I and II (p?0.05). Variable gene mutation was detected in p53 exons (5b, 6 and 7) which were 28.5% (group I), 7.7% (group II) and 9% (group III) for exon 5b, 28.5% (group I) and 15.4% (group II) for exon 6 and 14.2% (group I), 7.7% (group II) and 9% (group III) for exon -7. There was significant reduced platelet count in all exposed groups. Both CD3% and CD4% and the absolute value of T-helper lymphocytes were significantly reduced in group I and II. EtO gas exposed personals showed a remarked IgG concentrations increments. There were genetically observed mutational changes located at p53 gene post EtO gas exposure.