Objective To investigate the lead pollution status in the workplaces of enterprises in the lead-acid battery industry in Wuhan, to analyze the correlation between lead level in the workplace and blood lead concentration in exposed workers, and to provide some advice on occupational health problems for companies. Methods Lead fume and lead dust in the workplaces were monitored from the workplaces of four lead-acid battery companies in Wuhan, and the blood lead levels of lead exposed workers were tested. Results The exceeding standard rate of lead concentration in the workplace was 34.95%, and the exceeding rate of blood lead was 1.74% among 1 435 workers. As the age of exposure increased, the average blood lead concentration of workers increased, and the difference in blood lead concentration among workers in each enterprise was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The lead concentration in the workplaces of the lead-acid battery industry in Wuhan seriously exceeded the standard. There were significant differences in blood lead concentrations among lead-exposed workers in different enterprises. Relevant departments and employees should take corresponding measures to reduce the harm.

Objective To investigate the association and interaction of heat shock proteins B1 (HSPB1) gene rs2868371 and tumor-suppressor protein p53 (TP53) gene rs1042522 polymorphisms with chromosome damage levels among coke oven workers. Methods We recruited 1 333 male workers from a state-run coke oven plant in Wuhan in September-October 2010. Among them, 949 who had worked in coke oven workplaces, including auxiliary facilities and bottom, side, and top ovens, were nominated as coke oven workers (i.e., exposed), and 384 administrative or medical staff whose workplaces were offices were used as controls. General characteristics and 5 ml of venous blood were collected from each participant. The plasma concentrations of benzo [a] pyrene-diolepoxide (BPDE)-albumin adducts and the lymphocytic micronucleus (MN) frequencies for each individual were detected by ELISA and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, respectively. Gene polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan assays via quantitative PCR (ABI Prism 7900HT), and the corresponding frequency ratios (FR) with 95%confidence intervals (CI) were computed for all assays. Results In the exposed group, the MN frequencies were higher in HSPB1 rs2868371 GC, CC, and GC+CC genotype carriers ((3.88 ± 2.88)‰, (4.00 ± 2.66)‰, and (3.91 ± 2.83)‰, respectively) than in rs2868371 GG genotype carriers ((3.52±2.67)‰;FR=1.10, 1.13, and 1.11;95%CI:1.02-1.19, 1.02-1.25, and 1.03-1.19, respectively), and the HSPB1 rs2868371C allele was associated with increased MN frequency (Ptrend=0.006). Further, in the exposed group, the MN frequencies were lower in TP53 rs1042522 CG and CG+GG genotype carriers ((3.63±2.61)‰and (3.66±2.61)‰, respectively) than in TP53 rs1042522 CC genotype carriers (3.95 ± 3.06)‰(FR=0.87 and 0.90;95%CI:0.83-0.96 and 0.84-0.97, respectively). The effect of gene-gene interaction between HSPB1, rs2868371, and TP53 rs1042522 on MN frequency was significant among coke oven workers (P=0.001). Further stratified analyses showed that the effects of the HSPB1 rs2868371C allele in increasing MN frequencies were robust in subjects aged>40 years (FR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12), those working >20 years (FR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.14), those with BMI ≤24 kg/m2 (FR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.13), drinkers (FR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16), and workers with higher BPDE-albumin adduct levels (FR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.13) (Ptrend=0.023, 0.013, 0.029, and 0.020, respectively). The decreasing effect of the TP53 rs1042522 G allele on MN frequencies was robust in subjects aged >40 years (FR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99), those with BMI ≤24 kg/m2 (FR=0.94, 95% CI:0.88-0.99), and drinkers (FR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-1.00) (Ptrend=0.031, 0.023, and 0.038, respectively). In addition, there were interactions between HSPB1 rs2868371 and age and between HSPB1 rs2868371 and working years in terms of MN frequency (P=0.030 and 0.013, respectively). Conclusion In coke oven workers, the HSPB1 rs2868371 C and TP53 rs1042522 G alleles were associated with increased and decreased chromosome damage levels, respectively, and their interaction effect on chromosome damage levels was significant.

Objective To investigate the association and interaction of heat shock proteins B1 (HSPB1) gene rs2868371 and tumor-suppressor protein p53 (TP53) gene rs1042522 polymorphisms with chromosome damage levels among coke oven workers. Methods We recruited 1 333 male workers from a state-run coke oven plant in Wuhan in September-October 2010. Among them, 949 who had worked in coke oven workplaces, including auxiliary facilities and bottom, side, and top ovens, were nominated as coke oven workers (i.e., exposed), and 384 administrative or medical staff whose workplaces were offices were used as controls. General characteristics and 5 ml of venous blood were collected from each participant. The plasma concentrations of benzo [a] pyrene-diolepoxide (BPDE)-albumin adducts and the lymphocytic micronucleus (MN) frequencies for each individual were detected by ELISA and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, respectively. Gene polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan assays via quantitative PCR (ABI Prism 7900HT), and the corresponding frequency ratios (FR) with 95%confidence intervals (CI) were computed for all assays. Results In the exposed group, the MN frequencies were higher in HSPB1 rs2868371 GC, CC, and GC+CC genotype carriers ((3.88 ± 2.88)‰, (4.00 ± 2.66)‰, and (3.91 ± 2.83)‰, respectively) than in rs2868371 GG genotype carriers ((3.52±2.67)‰;FR=1.10, 1.13, and 1.11;95%CI:1.02-1.19, 1.02-1.25, and 1.03-1.19, respectively), and the HSPB1 rs2868371C allele was associated with increased MN frequency (Ptrend=0.006). Further, in the exposed group, the MN frequencies were lower in TP53 rs1042522 CG and CG+GG genotype carriers ((3.63±2.61)‰and (3.66±2.61)‰, respectively) than in TP53 rs1042522 CC genotype carriers (3.95 ± 3.06)‰(FR=0.87 and 0.90;95%CI:0.83-0.96 and 0.84-0.97, respectively). The effect of gene-gene interaction between HSPB1, rs2868371, and TP53 rs1042522 on MN frequency was significant among coke oven workers (P=0.001). Further stratified analyses showed that the effects of the HSPB1 rs2868371C allele in increasing MN frequencies were robust in subjects aged>40 years (FR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12), those working >20 years (FR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.14), those with BMI ≤24 kg/m2 (FR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.13), drinkers (FR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16), and workers with higher BPDE-albumin adduct levels (FR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.13) (Ptrend=0.023, 0.013, 0.029, and 0.020, respectively). The decreasing effect of the TP53 rs1042522 G allele on MN frequencies was robust in subjects aged >40 years (FR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99), those with BMI ≤24 kg/m2 (FR=0.94, 95% CI:0.88-0.99), and drinkers (FR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-1.00) (Ptrend=0.031, 0.023, and 0.038, respectively). In addition, there were interactions between HSPB1 rs2868371 and age and between HSPB1 rs2868371 and working years in terms of MN frequency (P=0.030 and 0.013, respectively). Conclusion In coke oven workers, the HSPB1 rs2868371 C and TP53 rs1042522 G alleles were associated with increased and decreased chromosome damage levels, respectively, and their interaction effect on chromosome damage levels was significant.