1.Pollution levels and health risk assessment of nitrosamines in pipeline direct drinking water from primary and secondary schools in Shanghai
Ting WANG ; Chaoye SHEN ; Zhe CHEN ; Jian CHEN ; Yi SU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(5):637-642
Background Nitrosamines (NAms), emerging as disinfection by-products in drinking water, are highly carcinogenic. Given the significant NAms contamination reported in various regions of China, evaluating the contamination levels and health risks of NAms in terminal direct drinking water is of great urgency. Objective To investigate the concentration levels of NAms in piped direct drinking water at primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, and to assess the potential health risks posed to different age groups through this exposure pathway. Methods A total of 198 water samples were collected from 66 primary and secondary schools across five districts in Shanghai from May to June 2023. The mass concentrations of eight major NAms were quantified using solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A carcinogenic health risk model was employed to evaluate the lifetime cancer risks associated with NAms exposure via direct drinking water for various age groups. Results Among the 198 samples, NAms were detected in 196 samples, with concentrationsranging from below the limit of detection (LOD) to 106.06 ng·L−1. The average concentration of total NAms was 21.30 ng·L−1, with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) exhibiting the highest detection rate at 98.5%. Significant differences in NAms concentrations were observed among water treatment systems utilizing ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) as core processes (P<0.05). The lifetime cancer risks for different age groups ranged from 1.38×10−6 to 1.11×10−5, with NDMA contributing the most to the overall risk (82.1%). The carcinogenic risk for adults (1.08×10−5) was higher than that for children and adolescents (1.38×10−6 to 2.61×10−6). Among children and adolescents under 18 years of age, the risk decreased as age increased. Conclusion Trace levels of NAms, primarily NDMA, are detected in the piped direct drinking water at primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, with concentrations vary significantly depending on the water treatment process. The carcinogenic risks of NAms exposure via direct drinking water for all age groups are below the acceptable level (1×10−4) recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
2.Pollution levels and health risk assessment of nitrosamines in pipeline direct drinking water from primary and secondary schools in Shanghai
Ting WANG ; Chaoye SHEN ; Zhe CHEN ; Jian CHEN ; Yi SU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(5):637-642
Background Nitrosamines (NAms), emerging as disinfection by-products in drinking water, are highly carcinogenic. Given the significant NAms contamination reported in various regions of China, evaluating the contamination levels and health risks of NAms in terminal direct drinking water is of great urgency. Objective To investigate the concentration levels of NAms in piped direct drinking water at primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, and to assess the potential health risks posed to different age groups through this exposure pathway. Methods A total of 198 water samples were collected from 66 primary and secondary schools across five districts in Shanghai from May to June 2023. The mass concentrations of eight major NAms were quantified using solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A carcinogenic health risk model was employed to evaluate the lifetime cancer risks associated with NAms exposure via direct drinking water for various age groups. Results Among the 198 samples, NAms were detected in 196 samples, with concentrationsranging from below the limit of detection (LOD) to 106.06 ng·L−1. The average concentration of total NAms was 21.30 ng·L−1, with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) exhibiting the highest detection rate at 98.5%. Significant differences in NAms concentrations were observed among water treatment systems utilizing ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) as core processes (P<0.05). The lifetime cancer risks for different age groups ranged from 1.38×10−6 to 1.11×10−5, with NDMA contributing the most to the overall risk (82.1%). The carcinogenic risk for adults (1.08×10−5) was higher than that for children and adolescents (1.38×10−6 to 2.61×10−6). Among children and adolescents under 18 years of age, the risk decreased as age increased. Conclusion Trace levels of NAms, primarily NDMA, are detected in the piped direct drinking water at primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, with concentrations vary significantly depending on the water treatment process. The carcinogenic risks of NAms exposure via direct drinking water for all age groups are below the acceptable level (1×10−4) recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
3.Changes in health status and management strategies for workers in a chemical enterprise under low-level multiple occupational exposure
Xueting WANG ; Jiming ZHANG ; Yulai TIAN ; Zhiping DUAN ; Wenjie LI ; Chaoye SHEN ; Dasheng LU ; Zhijun ZHOU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(6):693-701
Background Long-term occupational health surveillance facilitates the identification of chronic health risks arising from occupational hazard exposures. However, under low-level exposure conditions in chemical enterprises, traditional workplace-centered risk assessment models are insufficient to fully explain the observed health effects among workers, highlighting the need for individual-focused health management strategies that focus on the worker. Objective To characterize long-term health trends among workers in a chemical enterprise and examine the limitations of workplace hazard monitoring and health surveillance under low-level multiple exposure scenarios, thereby providing a scientific basis for more comprehensive worker health protection measures. Methods We analyzed 972 occupational health examination records collected over a 15-year period (2010–2024) from a chemical enterprise, integrating these with enterprise hazard monitoring reports and workshop air monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The annual counts and prevalences of abnormalities in liver function tests, metabolic syndrome-related indicators, and liver imaging were summarized. Temporal trends were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Time-related changes in abnormal health indicators among active workers were evaluated by generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs), adjusting for age and sex. Individual longitudinal profiles were described for nine workers with continuous 15-year records. In addition, paired comparisons of health outcomes were conducted for 81 workers with both pre-employment and periodic examinations. Results Workplace hazard monitoring indicated that airborne concentrations of major occupational contaminants including VOCs, acids and bases, dust, and physical factors were below national occupational exposure limits. However, 62 VOC species—including chlorobenzene, chloromethane, and cyclohexane—were detected in workshop air, suggesting complex mixed organic solvent exposure. From 2010 to 2015, occupational health examination records were primarily based on physicians’ qualitative assessment, yielding generally low abnormality detection rates. During 2016–2024, data collection was complete, and the prevalences of abnormalities in liver function, metabolic syndrome-related indicators, and liver imaging among active workers remained relatively high. Trend analysis indicated that only the abnormality rates of total bilirubin (TBIL) and hypertension showed statistically significant temporal trends; other indicators exhibited no significant linear changes despite high prevalences. After adjusting for age and sex, the GLMMs showed that the abnormality rates of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), TBIL, and hypertension decreased over time, whereas those of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty liver increased. In a subgroup of 9 workers with continuous 15-year follow-up data, the cumulative number of abnormal health indicators increased in several individuals after 2016. Among the 81 workers with both pre-employment and periodic records, abnormalities in total cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, and fatty liver were significantly more prevalent after employment over time, whereas changes in liver function enzymes were not statistically significant. Conclusion With increasing age, workers exhibit a gradual deterioration in liver function and metabolic-related health indicators, reaching abnormality rates comparable to those reported in the general population. These findings suggest that both workplace-related and non-occupational factors jointly contribute to the observed health changes. Consequently, occupational health management should shift towards an "individual-centered" approach. Enhancing workers' health literacy, strengthening workplace health promotion, and extending occupational health services beyond the workplace are essential to comprehensively protect workers' health.
4.Investigation of chemical hazards in the production line of a lithium battery manufacturing plant
Ziqian YANG ; Yulai TIAN ; Xueting WANG ; Yiming DAI ; Pengwei LIU ; Chaoye SHEN ; Jiming ZHANG ; Zhijun ZHOU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(12):1009-1016
ObjectiveTo investigate the chemical hazards in the production line of lithium batteries, so as to provide a scientific basis for the management of occupational-health risk and to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the lithium battery industry. MethodsAn on-site survey on the process flow of the production of lithium battery was conducted in an enterprise. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the occupational environment were collected by Summa canisters, carbonates and N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) were collected using activated carbon tubes, and airborne metals were collected using filter membranes. VOCs, carbonates and NMP were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and airborne metal elements in the dust samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ResultsNon-targeted environmental monitoring results indicated that NMP was detected in the negative /positive electrode coating, assembly and drying filling workstations, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was detected in the assembly, drying and electrolyte injection workstations, and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) was detected solely in the electrolyte injection workstation. Semi-quantitative analyses of VOCs identified 136 pollutants, including acrylonitrile and halohydrocarbons. Quantitative targeted environmental monitoring results revealed the highest geometric mean (GM) concentration of EMC (31.450 mg·m-3) was found in the assembly and drying workstations, diethyl carbonate (DEC) was detected in all workstations. While vinylene carbonate (VC) and ethylene carbonate (EC) were detected only in electrolyte injection, assembly and drying workstations. NMP was detected in all positive electrode coating samples, with a GM concentration of 5.68 mg·m-3 (concentration range: 4.0‒ 7.4 mg·m-³). Lithium was exclusively detected in dust samples from the liquid injection workstation (GM: 0.014 μg·m-³). ConclusionNMP, EMC, DEC, and other chemicals are identified at the key workstations such as the positive electrode coating, electrolyte injection, assembly and drying in the lithium production line. Furthermore, semi-quantitative VOCs analyses identified 136 pollutants, demonstrating a characteristic of multicomponent chemical exposure.
5.Study on relationship between blood supply from pulmonary artery and pathological characteristics of patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma.
Yongkui ZHANG ; Hanbo LE ; Zhijun CHEN ; Chaoye WANG ; Binjie ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2006;9(4):333-336
BACKGROUNDAt present, it has been known that the bronchogenic artery participates in the blood supply of primary bronchogenic carcinoma, but there is controversy about the blood supply from pulmonary artery in primary bronchogenic carcinoma. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the blood supply from pulmonary artery and pathological characteristis of patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma.
METHODSThe pulmonary arteries in 43 surgical samples of bronchogenic carcinoma were marked, then the iopromide was used to selective pulmonary arteriography in digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The relationship between tumor with blood supply from pulmonary artery and the pathologic characteristics was observed.
RESULTSThere were 34 samples with blood supply from pulmonary artery ( 79.07%) , and 9 samples without blood supply from pulmonary artery (20.93%). The development rate of peripheral lung cancer (100.00%) was significantly higher than that of central lung cancer (64.00%) (P < 0.01) . The development rate of squamous cell carcinoma (91.30%) was remarkably higher than that of adenocarcinoma (61.11%) (P < 0.05). The development rate of poorly differentiated lung cancer (95.00%) was remarkably higher than that of well and moderately differentiated lung cancer (65.22%) (P < 0.05). There was a positive relationship between the tumor size and the development rate (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONSIn primary bronchogenic carcinoma, the pulmonary artery blood supply exists in most of tumors. There is relationship between the blood supply from pulmonary artery and general type, histopathology, cell differentiation and tumor size of lung cancer. The blood supply from pulmonary artery doesn't relate to tumor stage.

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