Abnormal blood pressure and its association with serum 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine among refractory ceramic fiber workers
- VernacularTitle:耐火陶瓷纤维作业工人血压异常情况及其与血清8-羟基脱氧鸟苷的关联
- Author:
Yishuo GU
1
;
Mingzhu LAI
2
;
Siwen YANG
1
;
Wenjun MA
3
;
Xiaojun ZHU
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Selectedarticle
- Keywords: refractory ceramic fiber; abnormal blood pressure; 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine; oxidative stress; mediating effect
- From: Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(6):684-692
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Background Previous studies have focused on the respiratory system and skin damage caused by refractory ceramic fibers (RCFs). However, investigations into cardiovascular health of workers exposed to RCFs are insufficient. There is limited research on the association between occupational RCFs exposure and abnormal blood pressure, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms. Objective To explore the association between occupational exposure to RCFs and abnormal blood pressure, and to analyze the role of serum 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in this relationship, providing a reference for comprehensive health protection strategies for RCFs-exposed workers. Methods Using a cluster sampling method, 311 workers engaged in the production and processing of RCFs at a large RCFs enterprise were selected as the study population. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information and other relevant data. The workers’ total dust, respirable fiber, and noise exposure levels were measured. Blood pressure was measured during occupational health examinations, and blood samples were collected. Based on blood pressure levels, the participants were divided into three groups: normotension, prehypertension, and hypertension. Serum 8-OHdG concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ordinal logistic regression and multiple linear regression models were applied to evaluate the associations of exposures to noise and RCFs with abnormal blood pressure and serum 8-OHdG levels. The mediating effect of serum 8-OHdG on the relationship between occupational RCFs exposure and abnormal blood pressure was analyzed using the PROCESS 4.1 macro. Results All 311 RCFs workers had varying levels of occupational exposure to RCFs, among whom 113 were also exposed to noise. The overall prevalences of prehypertension and hypertension among the participants were 49.84% and 11.25%, respectively. In the noise-exposed group, the prevalences of normotension, prehypertension, and hypertension were 44.2%, 43.4%, and 12.4%, respectively, which showed no statistically significant difference compared to the non-noise-exposed group (35.9%, 53.5%, and 10.6%, respectively; P=0.652). Significant differences were observed in the prevalences of normotension, prehypertension, and hypertension among workers with different levels of total dust exposure (P=0.033) and respirable fiber exposure (P=0.034). The differences in serum 8-OHdG concentrations across these groups were also statistically significant (P<0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that both total dust exposure level (OR=1.83, 95%CI: 1.34, 2.51) and respirable fiber exposure level (OR=1.85, 95%CI: 1.31, 2.62) were positively associated with the detection of abnormal blood pressure. Furthermore, total dust exposure level (β=5.85, 95%CI: 0.53, 11.17) and respirable fiber exposure level (β=6.04, 95%CI: 0.14, 11.94) were positively associated with serum 8-OHdG concentrations. Further analysis indicated that the severity of abnormal blood pressure was positively associated with serum 8-OHdG concentrations (β=10.54, 95%CI: 3.62, 17.46). Mediation analysis demonstrated that serum 8-OHdG mediated the relationship between RCFs total dust exposure levels and the risk of abnormal blood pressure (P<0.05), accounting for 8.63% of the total effect. However, no mediating effect of serum 8-OHdG was observed in the association between RCFs respirable fiber exposure levels and the risk of abnormal blood pressure (P>0.05). Conclusion Occupational exposure to RCFs is closely associated with an increased risk of abnormal blood pressure and elevated serum 8-OHdG levels. Oxidative stress may play a mediating role in the relationship between RCF exposure and abnormal blood pressure.
