The effect of sunblock against oxidative stress in farmers: a pilot study

Abstract

Farmers are frequently exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation which causes various diseases by inducing oxidative stress. This study aimed to assess the effects of sunblock on oxidative stress in the body. Eighty-seven farmers were divided into two groups: those who wore sunblock for five days and those who did not. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in urine, which is an antioxidant indicator, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in urine, an oxidative stress indicator, were measured. The urinary TAC of sunblock users was significantly higher than that of non-users, but urinary 8-OHdG levels were not significantly different. Even after adjustment for potential confounders, urinary TAC was found to be markedly increased with sunblock usage. These results suggest that sunblock is effective in preventing oxidative stress among farmers. In addition, they show that urinary TAC can be used as a good effect marker of oxidative stress caused by UV exposure.

Keywords

farmers / ultraviolet rays / sunscreening agents / oxidative stress / total antioxidant capacity

References

[1] Kaur A, Thatai  P, Sapra B . Need of UV protection and evaluation of efficacy of sunscreens[J]. J Cosmet Sci, 2014, 65(5): 315–345

[2] Mancebo SE, Wang  SQ. Skin cancer: role of ultraviolet radiation in carcinogenesis[J]. Rev Environ Health, 2014, 29(3): 265–273

[3] Yam JC, Kwok  AK. Ultraviolet light and ocular diseases[J]. Int Ophthalmol, 2014, 34(2): 383–400

[4] The International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Solar and ultraviolet radiation[J]. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum, 1992, 55: 1–316

[5] Svobodová AR ,  Galandáková A ,  Sianská J , Acute exposure to solar simulated ultraviolet radiation affects oxidative stress-related biomarkers in skin, liver and blood of hairless mice[J]. Biol Pharm Bull, 2011, 34(4): 471–479

[6] Altieri F, Grillo  C, Maceroni M , DNA damage and repair: from molecular mechanisms to health implications[J]. Antioxid Redox Signal, 2008, 10(5): 891–937

[7] Peters CE, Nicol  AM, Demers PA . Prevalence of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the job in Canada[J]. Can J Public Health, 2012, 103(3): 223–226

[8] Young C. Solar ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer[J]. Occup Med (Lond), 2009, 59(2): 82–88

[9] Kelly JW, Henderson  MA, Thursfield VJ , The management of primary cutaneous melanoma in Victoria in 1996 and 2000[J]. Med J Aust, 2007, 187(9): 511–514

[10] Makin J. Implications of climate change for skin cancer prevention in Australia[J]. Health Promot J Austr, 2011, 22(Spec No): S39–S41

[11] Fragar L, Depczynski  J, Lower T . Mortality patterns of Australian male farmers and farm managers[J]. Aust J Rural Health, 2011, 19(4): 179–184

[12] Silk KJ, Parrott  RL. All or nothing... or just a hat? Farmers’ sun protection behaviors[J]. Health Promot Pract, 2006, 7(2): 180–185

[13] Hughes MC, Williams  GM, Baker P , Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial[J]. Ann Intern Med, 2013, 158(11): 781–790

[14] Sanders K, Degn  LL, Mundy WR , In vitro phototoxicity and hazard identification of nano-scale titanium dioxide[J]. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 2012, 258(2): 226–236

[15] Apak R, Güçlü  K, Demirata B , Comparative evaluation of various total antioxidant capacity assays applied to phenolic compounds with the CUPRAC assay[J]. Molecules, 2007, 12(7): 1496–1547

[16] Pilger A, Rüdiger  HW. 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine as a marker of oxidative DNA damage related to occupational and environmental exposures[J]. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 2006, 80(1): 1–15

[17] Valavanidis A, Vlachogianni  T, Fiotakis C . 8-hydroxy-2′ -deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG): A critical biomarker of oxidative stress and carcinogenesis[J]. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev, 2009, 27(2): 120–139

[18] van der Pols JC ,  Williams GM ,  Pandeya N , Prolonged prevention of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin by regular sunscreen use[J]. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2006, 15(12): 2546–2548

[19] Moysan A, Marquis  I, Gaboriau F , Ultraviolet A-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense systems in cultured human skin fibroblasts[J]. J Invest Dermatol, 1993, 100(5): 692–698

[20] Vilela FM, Fonseca  YM, Vicentini FT , Sunscreen protection against ultraviolet-induced oxidative stress: evaluation of reduced glutathione levels, metalloproteinase secretion, and myeloperoxidase activity[J]. Pharmazie, 2013, 68(11): 872–876

[21] Beehler BC, Przybyszewski  J, Box HB , Formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine within DNA of mouse keratinocytes exposed in culture to UVB and H2O2[J]. Carcinogenesis, 1992, 13(11): 2003–2007

[22] Zhang X, Wu  RS, Fu W , Production of reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine in KB cells co-exposed to benzo[a]pyrene and UV-A radiation[J]. Chemosphere, 2004, 55(10): 1303–1308

[23] Kato M, Iida  M, Goto Y , Sunlight exposure-mediated DNA damage in young adults[J]. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2011, 20(8): 1622–1628

[24] Brumby S, Martin  J, Willder S . Milking their health for all its worth? Improving the health of farming families through facilitated learning[J]. Ext Farming Syst J, 2010, 6(1):1–12.

[25] Montague M, Borland  R, Sinclair C . Slip! Slop! Slap! and SunSmart, 1980-2000: Skin cancer control and 20 years of population-based campaigning[J]. Health Educ Behav, 2001, 28(3): 290–305

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2017 2017 by the Journal of Biomedical Research. All rights reserved.