Sepideh Tousizadeh - Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Mansour Salehi - Cellular, Molecular and Genetics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Fazel Mohammadi-Moghadam - Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Behnaz Tousizadeh - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ayatollah Amoli Azad University, Amol, Iran.
Sara Hemati - Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.

Introduction: Gaseous air pollutants can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to lung damage by inducing inflammation. Polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including lung disease. Two glutathione S-transferase Mu ۱ (GSTM۱) and glutathione S-transferase theta ۱ (GSTT۱) genes belong to this family, in which deletions occur and the resulting alleles are unable to produce active enzymes. Materials and Methods: In this study, ۴۱ steel plant workers with impaired lung function were selected. Multiplex PCR technique was used to identify the genotyping of GST M۱ and T۱. Results: The results of the frequency of gene deletion among ۴۱ patients showed that there were ۱۰ individuals (۱۷.۲%) with deletion of GSTM۱ gene, ۴ individuals (۱۱.۸%) with deletion of GSTT۱ gene. The results of the frequency of gene deletion among ۵۰ healthy individuals (control group) also showed that there were ۸ individuals (۸.۵%) with deletion of GSTM۱ gene, and ۱۲ individuals (۸.۳%) with deletion of GSTT۱ gene. There were ۷ individuals (۱۴%) without deletion of GSTM۱ and GSTT۱ removal. The results of Chi-square test between healthy and sick groups showed no significance at the level of p < ۰.۰۵. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the sensitivity to lung function abnormalities in steel workers is directly related to the duration of employment.

Total Lung Capacity, Glutathione S-transferase M۱, Air Pollutants, Isfahan City.