Présentations Colloques

Background- Several diseases have been caused by contamination of surface and groundwater. Metals are introduced into water systems as a result of the weathering of soils and rocks from volcanic eruptions and variety of human activities. **Aim- The aim of the present work is to investigate the impact of iron overload in drinking water on liver pathology. **Materials and Methods- Samples of drinking water, blood and true cut liver biopsies were taken from selected inhabitants, who attended in some Dakahlia governorate hospitals. Those inhabitants (16 patients) from Mit-ghamr and Aga districts were suffering from liver disorders (had hepatitis C) and 4 patients had chronic cholecystitis from Mansoura district as control cases. Measurement of iron level in water samples was carried out by the use of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, analyzed for serum iron level with a micro lab 200 spectrophotometer. **Results- The mean value of iron in surface water is lower than the permissible limit of Egyptian ministry of health (EMH) and World health organization (WHO). However, the mean value of iron in groundwater samples is higher than that permissible limit and than those of surface drinking water. Comparison between iron level in drinking water and human blood samples shows positive relationship. The control group depended on drinking surface water and had normal liver function tests, whereas the patient group that depended on drinking groundwater had abnormal values in liver function tests. These data suggest that the polluted iron drinking water is the reason for the liver disorder of the patients. Siderosis was apparent among those patients drinking polluted iron water in comparison to control cases. The siderosis appears to be responsible for resistance to treatment of HCV and progression of fibrosis. **Conclusions+ The accumulation of iron in liver leads to fibrosis. Iron depletion therapy could interfere with fibrosis development and possibly reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). **high level of iron in drinking water must be monitored regularly and groundwater samples should have special attention for treatment.****