Valutazione dello stress ossidativo, quantificato attraverso test ELISA, e della presenza di fibre e particelle inorganiche, rilevate attraverso analisi SEM-EDS, in campioni di urina di studenti in età infantile e puberale: uno studio preliminare

This thesis is based on a preliminary study on the measure of the oxidative stress intensity in a young and healthy population in the county of Turin, and the evaluation of the role that some independent environmental variables, such as the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres, and individual and physiological variables, within the limit of the number of samples considered, might play on it. In order to achieve the aim, 20 urine samples were analysed: 12 collected from the students group of Guglielmo Marconi Elementary School, and 8 collected from the students group of Isaac Newton High School, in Chivasso (Piedmont, Italy). ELISA essay was carried out at first on urine samples in order to quantify the 15-F2t- isoP level as a biomarker of oxidative stress intensity, then a mineralogical investigation through SEM-EDS analysis to research dusts and inorganic fibres was performed. A linear correlation study was carried out in order to find a relation between the oxidative stress intensity and: 1) the number of inorganic exogenous fibres found; 2) the presence of phosphates and calcium fibrous compounds found; 3) amount of hours of sport practised in a week. Secondly it was evaluated a possible correlation between the presence of endogenous phosphatic and calcium fibres and diet. The survey, also taking into account the lack of the units of interest, revealed that: there is a weak negative correlation between oxidative stress intensity and the number of asbestos and other exogenous fibres found in the urine samples, while there is no relation between oxidative stress intensity and the number of endogenous fibres found in the urine samples nor the hours of sport practised; there is a weak positive correlation between the number of endogenous fibres and the meat consumption, while there is no relation between number of endogenous fibres and vegetable consumption. Referring to previous studies, we can assume that the age of the subject can probably influence the calcium concentration in urine and explain the high concentration in phosphatic and calcium aggregates in all the urine samples detected in this study. A study providing mineralogical analysis of urine samples from subjects in childhood and adolescence is probably unsuitable to produce reliable results.