Benzofurans ; analysis ; chemistry ; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated ; Dioxins ; analysis ; chemistry ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control

Dust ; Humans ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Silicosis ; etiology

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Germany ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence characteristics and influence factors of pneumoconiosis of workers exposed to dusts in an iron mine, to provide the base of preventive measures for pneumoconiosis of iron mine.

METHODSThe subjects of cohort study were all workers exposed to dusts for at least one year registered in an iron mine during 1960 to 1974, and followed-up to the end in 2003. The cases with pneumoconiosis were diagnosed by the local diagnosis group of pneumoconiosis, according to the national diagnostic criteria of pneumoconiosis. The risk factors were analyzed with Cox risk model.

RESULTSA total of 3647 miners were included in the cohort study and were followed up by 132 574.4 person years. There were 316 cases with pneumoconiosis, and the incidence of pneumoconiosis for a year was 0.24 per thousand. There were 274 cases (86.7%) with pneumoconiosis in workers exposed to dusts before 1960, the incidence of pneumoconiosis for a year was 0.40 per thousand, which was significantly higher than that (0.07 per thousand) of workers exposed to dusts after 1960. The average latency of pneumoconiosis was 26.0 +/- 7.3 years. The average durations of upgrade from stage 0(+) to I , I to II and II to III were 5.3 +/- 3.2, 6.6 +/- 5.2 and 11.3 +/- 5.0 years, respectively. However, 164 cases with pneumoconiosis were diagnosed after ceasing exposure to dusts for mean 8.3 years. The risk of pneumoconiosis in iron miners increased with exposure doses, and there was an obvious dose-effect relationship. The average cumulative exposure dose of cases with pneumoconiosis was 173.7 +/- 91.6 mg/m3 x y, which was significantly higher than that (112.1 +/- 64.8 mg/m3 x y) of workers without pneumoconiosis. Also the tuberculosis (HR = 5.9, P < 0.001) and smoking (HR = 1.7, P < 0.01) were the main risk factors.

CONCLUSIONThere was an obvious dose-effect relationship between the cumulative exposure dose and pneumoconiosis incidence. Tuberculosis and smoking were the main risk factors influencing the pneumoconiosis incidence.

Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Cohort Studies ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo determine occupational hazards in work sites of a large solid waste landfill and analyze their adverse health effects.

METHODThe national standardized detection methods were used to determine dust concentration, harmful gas and physical factors in worksites. Routine physical examination, pulmonary function, hearing tests and nervous system test were performed in workers for 2 consecutive years. Urine lead, cadmium and mercury contents were detected. The comet assay was use to measure DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes among workers.

RESULTThe main occupational hazard factors in this solid landfill are dust, harmful gas, high temperature and noise. The oxides, carbon monoxide, and noise and high temperatures in summer at some work sites exceeded the national occupational exposure limits. The prevalence of respiratory inflammation and rate of pulmonary function decrease among front-line workers and on-site technical managers are 21.2% and 11.5%, which are significantly higher than those among administrative staff (7.1% and 0) (P < 0.05). Nervous system abnormalities rate of front-line workers and on-site technical managers was 50.0%, which is significantly higher than that (26.7%) of administrative staff (P < 0.05). Because of long-term exposure to high intensity noice, hearing loss rate of bulldozer drivers was 10.3%. In addition, about 75% of workers with DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocyte are front-line workers.

CONCLUSIONAdverse health effects from occupational hazards were observed among workers in this solid waste landfill.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; Refuse Disposal ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo assess biological response and health adverse effects of industrial dusts from pottery factories and tungsten mines on alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro.

METHODSAM acquired from bronchoalveolar lavage of guinea pigs were used as the target cells. AM were then co-cultured with respirable dust particles (15, 30, 60 and 120 μg/10⁶) from pottery factories and tungsten mines. LDH activity, cell viability, the release of ROS and TNF-α were determined to assess the biological responses of the dusts. China Standard Quartz was used as control.

RESULTSDose- response relationships between the dust concentrations and the enhancement of LDH activity, the release of ROS and TNF-α were found in both dusts from pottery factories and tungsten mines. The cell viability decreased when the dusts' concentrations increased. Differences of biological response were observed in the dust particles from different mines or factories. Compared with the pottery dusts, higher LDH activity and the release of TNF-α induced by tungsten dust were observed. In the 120 μg/10⁶ group, the TNF-α induced by tungsten dust, pottery dusts and China Standard Quartz was (5.2 +/- 2.0) ng/ml, (3.3 +/- 1.6) ng/ml and (2.8 +/- 0.5) ng/ml respectively. However, the impact on the cell viability induced by pottery dust was higher than that by tungsten mine.

CONCLUSIONIndustrial dusts from various sources could induce different biological effects. The results of the biological effects of dusts in laboratory tests may be of potential use to provide base data for their adverse effects evaluation.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Ceramics ; Dust ; Guinea Pigs ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mining ; Quartz ; toxicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Tungsten ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of the alteration of humidity and (or) temperature on weight of filters without and with ambient particulate matter in a balance room.

METHODSThe mass of blank dust sampling filters were weighed under (18 +/- 1) degrees C and (28 +/- 1) degrees C respectively, with the humidity varying from 35% relative humidity (RH) to 100% RH in a balance room. Then the blank filters were divided into two groups and were used to sample total dust and respirable dust. After sampling, the loaded filters were re-weighed under above conditions and the mass difference before and after the sampling were compared and analyzed.

RESULTSThe vibration of the average mass of filters varied from 0.10 to 0.13 mg and from 0.06 to 0.09 mg under the temperatures of (18 +/- 1) degrees C and (28 +/- 1) degrees C respectively; When both the temperature and humidity changed, it varied from 0.12 to 0.16 mg. The deviation of average mass difference ranged from 0.07 to 0.10 mg and from 0.04 to 0.08 mg under the two temperatures mentioned above; When both the temperature and humidity changed, it varied from 0.09 to 0.14 mg. The average mass of blank filters and loaded filters were all positively correlated with the change of humidity (P < 0.01). No effects of humidity on the average mass difference of the loaded filters were observed. The average mass differences of loaded filters and blank filters under (18 +/- 1) degrees C were significantly higher than that under (28 +/- 1) degrees C (P < 0.01) when humidity was not changed.

CONCLUSIONThe alteration of humidity and (or) temperature in a balance room attributes to the deviation of the measurement of the mass of filters and thus affects the gravimetric measurements of ambient particulate matter.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; instrumentation ; Filtration ; instrumentation ; Humidity ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Temperature

BACKGROUNDDiabetes mellitus has become epidemic in recent years in China. We investigated the prevalence of hyperglycaemia and inadequate glycaemic control among type 2 diabetic inpatients from ten university teaching hospitals in Guangdong Province, China.

METHODSInadequate glycaemic control in diabetic patients was defined as HbA1c = 6.5%. Therapeutic regimens included no-intervention, lifestyle only, oral antiglycemic agents (OA), insulin plus OA (insulin + OA), or insulin only. Antidiabetic managements included monotherapy, double therapy, triple or quadruple therapy.

RESULTSAmong 493 diabetic inpatients with known history, 75% had HbA1c = 6.5%. Inadequate glucose control rates were more frequently seen in patients on insulin + OA regimen (97%) than on OA regimen (71%) (P < 0.001), and more frequent in patients on combination therapy (81% - 96%) than monotherapy (75%) (P < 0.05). Patients on insulin differed significantly from patients on OA by mean HbA1c, glycemic control rate, diabetes duration, microvascular complications, and BMI (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThis study showed that glycaemic control of type 2 diabetic patients deteriorated for patients who received insulin and initiation time of insulin was usually delayed. It is up to clinicians to move from the traditional stepwise therapy to a more active and early combination antidiabetic therapy to provide better glucose control.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; epidemiology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Inpatients ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective: To understand the volatile organic components in the organic solvents used by enterprises in Baoan District, Shenzhen. Methods: From January to December 2020, a total of 541 organic solvent samples used by 86 companies were collected for volatile organic component analysis, and the main volatile components and high-risk occupational hazards in organic solvents used in different industries were analyzed. Results: A total of 201 volatile organic components were detected in 541 organic solvents. The top 5 components detected include xylene (29.76%, 116/541), toluene (21.81%, 118/541), methanol (20.70%, 112/541), n-hexane (14.79%, 80/541) and ethylbenzene (14.23%, 77/541). The detection rates of benzene, trichloroethylene, n-hexane, and 1, 2-dichloroethane, which were high-risk occupational hazards, were 2.40% (13/541), 3.70% (20/541), 14.79% (80/541), and 1.66% (9/541), respectively. The volatile components in organic solvents used in different industries was different. Benzene is more frequently detected in organic solvents used in the printing industry, trichloroethylene was more frequently detected in organic solvents used in the electronics industry, and n-hexane was more commonly found in organic solvents used in the electronics industry, printing and other industries, and 1, 2-dichloroethane has been more frequently detected in organic solvents used in the machinery industry. Conclusion: There are many types of organic solvents used by enterprises in Bao'an District, with complex components and differences in different industries.
Benzene/analysis* ; Hexanes ; Solvents ; Industry ; Trichloroethylene

Objective: To understand the current situation and influencing factors of cervical and lumbar spine diseases of the express delivery employees, and provide scientific basis for carrying out their occupational health protection in a targeted manner. Methods: From February 2020 to January 2021, the current situation research method was used to obtain 527 express delivery employees by cluster sampling. Online questionnaires were used to investigate sociodemographic characteristics and emotional characteristics, and clinical data were obtained by digital X-ray (DR) examination of the neck and waist. Pearson χ(2) test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of cervical and lumbar spine diseases in express delivery employees. Results: The prevalence rates of cervical spine and lumbar spine diseases among express delivery employees were 49.15% (259/527) and 67.74% (357/527) , respectively. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of cervical and lumbar spine disease among express delivery employees with different ages, length of service, working hours per week, and different degrees of distress due to emotional factors (P<0.05) . Multivariate analysis showed that express delivery employees aged ≥25 years old had a higher risk of cervical spine disease (P<0.05) , the express delivery employees who worked 49-55 hours per week had a lower risk of cervical spine disease (P<0.05) . Express delivery employees aged≥35 years old had a lower risk of lumbar spine disease (P<0.05) , and the risk of lumbar spine disease was higher among express delivery workers who suffered moderate or more distress due to emotional factors (such as anxiety, depression, or irritability) in the past 4 weeks (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The prevalence of cervical and lumbar spine diseases is relatively high among express delivery employees. It is recommended to adjust the weekly working hours of express delivery employees, organize psychological counseling training, and effectively protect the occupational health rights of express delivery employees.
Adult ; Health Services Accessibility ; Human Rights ; Humans ; Occupational Health ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires