Ameliorative Effect of Zinc on Oxidative Stress Induced by Electromagnetic Fields Emitted from Computers

Background: A personal computer (PC) is a device with wide existence and use in modern societies. A PC user is exposed to a wide range of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Objectives: This work aimed to investigate the possible effects of radiation emitted from computer monitor on the oxidant/antioxidant status of workers. Potential ameliorative effects of zinc (Zn) on antioxidant status was considered. Three groups were included in this work. Group B comprised 42 computer workers. The same workers were given zn tablets in a dose of 25 mg/day orally. They were termed group A. A control group composed of sixty-three subjects were included. They were matched for age and socioeconomic status. The study lasted for fifty-six days. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities were measured in serum of all participants. We found that serum levels of MDA were significantly increased while zinc concentration, GSH level and (CAT, SOD, and GPx) activities decreased significantly in group B compared with group C. In group A, all parameters were improved when compared with group B. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that chronic exposure to EMRs emitted from computer induced oxidative stress. Zn supplementation can safeguard against resultant oxidative stress.