THYROID FUNCTION IN SUDANESE GOLD MINERS WITH CHRONIC MERCURY EXPOSURE

Eltayeb Tayrab*

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to assess the thyroid functions in traditional gold miners in the River Nile State- Sudan; including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total and free thyroxine (TT4, FT4) and total plus free triiodothyronine (TT3, FT3); as continuation of the studies on health effect in traditional gold miners in Sudan. Material and methods: blood samples were collected from 83 Sudanese miners working in traditional mining sites, beside 50 healthy volunteers from Khartoum State, as control group. Serum thyroid hormones were measured using (ELISA). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. Results: The mean serum levels of TSH, TT3, FT3, TT4 & FT4, among artisanal gold miners was (5.13 μIU/ml, 1.16 ng/dl, 1.34 pg/ml, 86, 34 pmol/l and 6.41 ng/dl); versus (2.40 μIU/ml, 1.47 ng/dl, 3.12 pg/ml, 72.62 pmol/l, and 12.51 ng/dl) in the control group; respectively. There was significant decrease in serum TT3, FT3 and FT4 when compared to their control (P.value= 0.004, 0.000, 0.000) respectively; while there was a significant increase in serum TSH and TT4 (P.value= 0.000, 0.002) respectively. Conclusion: In traditional gold miners working in Abuhamed; thyroid stimulating hormone and total thyroxine significantly increase; while total triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine significantly decrease.

Keywords: thyroid, hormones, serum, gold miners, mercury, Sudan.