The evaluation of liver dysfunction and oxidative stress due to urban environmental pollution in Mexican population related to Madin Dam, State of Mexico: a pilot study

One of the most important causes of disease and premature death in the world is environmental pollution. The presence of pollutants in both water and air contributes to the deterioration of the health of human populations. The Mexico City Metropolitan Area is one of the most populous and affected by air pollution worldwide; in addition, in recent years there has been a growing demand for water, so urban reservoirs such as the Madin dam are vital to meet the demand. However, this reservoir is highly polluted due to the urban settlements around it. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate oxidative stress in clinically healthy subjects by means of the degree of lipoperoxidation, as well as the modification of serum enzyme levels, such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase associated with air and drinking water pollutants from three zones of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, two of them related to Madin Dam. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2019 and September 2021 in 142 healthy participants (age range 18–65 years). Healthy subjects were confirmed by their medical history. The results showed that chronic exposure to air (SO₂) and water pollutants (Al and Fe) was significantly associated with elevated levels of lipoperoxidation. There was evidence that contamination from the Madín dam can generate oxidative stress and affect the health status of people who receive water from this reservoir or who consume fish that inhabit it.