Showing 3 results for Aluminum
Hamidreza Yaghoti, Azar Tol, Roya Sadeghi, Adel Mazloumi, Abbas Rahimi Foroushani, Arman Ghaderi,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (3-2021)
Abstract
Introduction: Designing behavioral modification interventions for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) warrants the audiences identification and analysis. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors for using (PPE) based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs among workers of Iran Aluminum Factory, 2018.
Material and Methods: In this descriptive analytical study with cross-sectional method, a researcher-made questionnaire including demographic information, knowledge questionnaire and designed items based on the SCT construct, was fulfilled by 188 workers employed in production line of Iran Aluminum Factory in Arak. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression analysis on SPSS 24. The significance level was set at P< 0.05.
Results: Among the participants, 46.8% (n=88) and 52.2% (n=100) of workers had moderate and high level of knowledge, respectively. Demographic variables such as marital status, educational level, income, age, work experience and employment status (p <0.05), as well as all SCT constructs (p <0.05) had a significant relationship with knowledge. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the level of education and employment status with probability of 80.6% and self-control, environment and self-efficacy of perceived barriers constructs, with a 64% probability could explained workers in high-knowledge group.
Conclusion: The present study revealed that the variables such as level of education, employment status, self-control, environment and self-efficacy of perceived barriers could be effective in designing educational interventions to improve workers’ knowledge on using personal protective equipment.
Esmaeil Karami, Zahra Goodarzi, Reza Chahardoli, Mahmoud Ghazi Khansari, Mehrafarin Kiani, Seyed Jamaleddin Shahtaheri,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (6-2022)
Abstract
Introduction: Although aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3-NPs) are the most widely used nanomaterials, limited studies have been reported on their toxicology. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of aluminum oxide (alumina) nanoparticles and the protective role of aqueous extract of wormwood plant on nanomaterial-induced disorders in the lung of rats.
Material and Methods: Here, 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. Next, the rats were first exposed to 200 mg/kg of the aqueous extract of wormwood plant (by gavage) for 15 days and then received a dose of 30 mg/kg of aluminum oxide nanoparticles as an intraperitoneal injection for 14 days. Furthermore, various features of clinical signs, body weight, biochemical parameters, gene expression changes, lung weight ratio, histopathological observations, and metal content in lung tissue were evaluated during the experiment. Eventually, the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Tukey’s range test were employed to analyze and compare the mean of the data.
Results: The results revealed that aluminum oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 30 mg/kg body weight led to changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, e.g., T-SOD, CAT, GPx, and TAC, lipid peroxidation, and iNOS for exposed rats. Also, the above biochemical disorders were associated with altered expression of oxidative stress-related genes (HO-1, MT-1) and histological changes in the lung tissue. On the other hand, simultaneous intake of aqueous extract of wormwood plant and aluminum oxide nanoparticles in rats significantly improved the studied parameters (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Our findings showed that the γ-Al2O3 NPs were more toxic than α-Al2O3 NPs, which can be attributed to changes related to their size and shape characteristics. Also, it was observed that the wormwood plant could play a protective role against aluminum oxide nanoparticles-induced pulmonary toxicity in rats.
Jamal Biganeh, Seyed Abolfazl Zakerian, Mohammad Reza Esmaeelpour Monazzam , Shima Mohammadi, Ahmad Khosravi, Seyed Jamaleddin Shahtaheri,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (3-2026)
Abstract
Introduction: Combined exposures, such as noise and aluminum exposure, are present in many occupational workplaces. Nevertheless, the neurocognitive effects resulting from this co-exposure have been scarcely investigated. The present study aimed to determine the effects of noise and aluminum co‑exposure on behavioral and cognitive indices and biomarkers in a Wistar rat model.
Material and Methods: This experimental study investigated 20 adult male Wistar rats over a period of 45 days, divided into four groups: 1. Control group (no exposure), 2. Noise exposure group (95 dB, 4 hours daily), 3. Aluminum chloride exposure group (10 mg/kg, daily intraperitoneal injection), and 4. Combined noise and aluminum exposure group (a combination of Group 2 and Group 3). Spatial memory performance was assessed using the Morris Water Maze test. The serum concentrations of total tau protein and beta-amyloid 42 were measured in blood samples using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 27.
Results: Behavioral test results indicated that the control group spent the least time searching for the platform. Exposure to aluminum and the combination of noise + aluminum led to a significant decrease in cognitive performance. Furthermore, serum levels of tau protein and beta-amyloid were significantly increased in all exposed groups (p<0.01), and a strong positive correlation was observed between these two biomarkers (r=0.70, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Findings demonstrated concurrent noise and aluminum exposure can synergistically impact cognitive performance and neurodegenerative biomarkers. These alterations likely occur through shared mechanisms such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruption of protein homeostasis. Increased tau and amyloid, coupled with memory decline, underscore this combined role in worsening neurodegeneration. These results suggest monitoring combined exposure and using blood biomarkers for early cognitive assessment.
