Glutathione and malondialdehyde levels in gas station attendants of Semarang city

Abstract

Gas station is one of the environments with thehighest oxidant content such as toluene, benzene, xylene or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), forming as free radicals. Glutathione (GSH) as the antioxidant plays a role in capturing free radicals in order to prevent the cell from damage.The objective of this study was to determine the GSH and MDA levels in gas station attendants of Semarang City. This study was an analytic observational and cross-sectional study conducted from April to August 2017. The blood samples were obtained from 34 gas station attendants and 22 volunteers who live in the countryside as the control group. Blood samples were analyzed by using ELISA kit to determine the GSH levels biochemically. Measurement of MDA levels were conducted using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARSC). The results showed that the average GSH level in gas station attendants was 0.587 μg/mL and in controls was 0.208 μg/mL. While the average MDA level in gas station attendants was 2.55nmol/mL and in controls was 0.827 nmol/mL. Statistical test result of GSH levels showed the significant value p = 0.000, and for MDA levels p=0,001. There is a relationship between working in gas station and GSH and MDA levels.