Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (Jun 2011)

Hematological and immunological effects of stress of air traffic controllers in northeastern Brazil

  • Valdenilson Ribeiro Ribas,
  • Hugo André de Lima Martins,
  • Marcelo Tavares Viana,
  • Simone do Nascimento Fraga,
  • Severino Marcos de Oliveira Carneiro,
  • Bruno Henrique Andrade Galvão,
  • Alice Andrade Bezerra,
  • Célia Maria Machado Barbosa de Castro,
  • Everton Botelho Sougey,
  • Raul Manhães de Castro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5581/1516-8484.20110053
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 33, no. 3
pp. 195 – 201

Abstract

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BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that stress and emotional reactions can affect immune responses in animals and humans. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate hematological and immunological effects of stress on air traffic controllers. METHODS: Thirty air traffic controllers and 15 aeronautical information service operators were evaluated. The groups were divided as information service operators with 10 years or more of experience (AIS>10) and with less than 10 years in the profession (AIS10) and with less than 10 years in the profession (ATCo10 group presented a significantly lower phagocytosis rate of monocytes at 2:00 p.m. compared to 8:00 a.m. Moreover, the ATCo>10 group presented lower hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelet and leukocyte levels, and increased cortisol concentrations at 8:00 a.m. compared to the other groups. Additionally, this group had lower phagocytosis rate of monocytes, and hemoglobin, platelet, leukocyte, basophils and nitric oxide levels at 2:00 p.m. compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: Stress seems to greatly affect immune responses of air traffic controllers with more than ten years of experience.

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