Humans ; Coal ; Dust/analysis* ; Anthracosis ; China/epidemiology* ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to estimate the benchmark dose (BMD) of coke oven emissions (COEs) exposure based on mitochondrial damage with the mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) as a biomarker. METHODS: A total of 782 subjects were recruited, including 238 controls and 544 exposed workers. The mtDNAcn of peripheral leukocytes was detected through the real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Three BMD approaches were used to calculate the BMD of COEs exposure based on the mitochondrial damage and its 95% confidence lower limit (BMDL). RESULTS: The mtDNAcn of the exposure group was lower than that of the control group (0.60 ± 0.29 vs. 1.03 ± 0.31; P < 0.001). A dose-response relationship was shown between the mtDNAcn damage and COEs. Using the Benchmark Dose Software, the occupational exposure limits (OELs) for COEs exposure in males was 0.00190 mg/m ³. The OELs for COEs exposure using the BBMD were 0.00170 mg/m ³ for the total population, 0.00158 mg/m ³ for males, and 0.00174 mg/m ³ for females. In possible risk obtained from animal studies (PROAST), the OELs of the total population, males, and females were 0.00184, 0.00178, and 0.00192 mg/m ³, respectively. CONCLUSION Based on our conservative estimate, the BMDL of mitochondrial damage caused by COEs is 0.002 mg/m ³. This value will provide a benchmark for determining possible OELs.
Male ; Female ; Animals ; Coke ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Benchmarking ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; DNA Damage

Welding operations are widely present in the manufacturing production process, involving a large number of occupational groups, and are the key occupations where work injuries and occupational diseases occur in China. For different welding processes and welding materials, the content and focus of occupational health monitoring are different. At present, the item of occupational health examination in welding operation is in poor consistency with the on-site exposure of occupational hazard factors, and it is mainly concentrated in the stage of disease development, which can not reflect the early health damage caused by welding dust exposure in time. The emergence of biomarkers of welding dust can make up for this defect. Therefore, it is of great significance to describe the current situation of occupational health monitoring of welding dust and summarize the research progress of related biomarkers for the early prevention of diseases caused by welding dust and the practice of occupational health monitoring.
Occupational Health ; Welding ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Dust/analysis* ; Biomarkers ; Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis*

Objective: To analyze the level of PCDD/Fs exposure of occupational workers in the waste incineration industry and explore the risk of occupational exposure. Methods: In September 2021, literature on environmental PCDD/Fs exposure in waste incineration plants published from the establishment of the database to February 10, 2021 was retrieved from CNKI database. A total of 1365 literatures were retrieved, and 7 met the criteria for inclusion. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inhalation risk model was used to assess and analyze carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of PCDD/Fs exposure among occupational workers in the waste incineration industry. Results: A total of 86 sampling sites were included in incineration plants in 7 regions. The study of Wuhan area showed that the concentration of working environment near the waste incinerator in the same factory was the highest, followed by the rest and office area in the factory. The concentration of PCDD/Fs in waste incinerators was the highest in Southwest China (4880.00-24880.00 pg TEQ/m(3)), and the lowest in Shenzhen (0.02-0.44 pg TEQ/m(3)). According to the cancer risk assessment, with the increase of exposure years, the risk of cancer increased. The highest risk of cancer was found in the waste incineration plants in Southwest China. When the exposure period was 1 year, the risk was moderate (22.40×10(-6)-114.20×10(-6)). When the exposure time was more than 5 years, the risk of cancer was high. In Jinan, workers working near the incinerator had a moderate risk of cancer after five years of exposure. In Zhejiang, workers were at medium risk of cancer after exposure for more than 20 years. Workers in Wuhan, Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta were still at low risk of cancer after 40 years of occupational exposure. HQ>1 of workers working near the waste incinerators in Jinan, Zhejiang Province and Southwest China, and the qualitative evaluation results showed that the non-carcinogenic risk was unacceptable. Conclusion: There are great differences in PCDD/Fs of occupational exposure in waste incineration industry, and the occupational exposure exceeding the occupational exposure limit has higher carcinogenic and non carcinogenic risks.
Humans ; Dibenzofurans ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/analysis* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Incineration ; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Benzofurans ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Carcinogens ; Risk Assessment ; Neoplasms ; Environmental Monitoring/methods*

Objective: To understand the exposure level of dust and noise in the mining industry and provide data support for revising policy for the prevention and control of occupational diseases. Methods: In May 2022, Data was collected through the National Surveillance Program for Occupational Hazards in the Workplace. Descriptive analysis was conducted for dust and noise levels by industry type and enterprise size from 7, 679 enterprises in the mining industry among 29 provincial regions nationwide. Results: The enterprises in the mining industry included in the National Surveillance Program for Occupational Hazards in the Workplace are mainly small and micro, accounting for 47.97% (3684/7679) and 30.00% (230/7679) respectively. The industry is mainly compred of employers in the non-metallic ming and beneficiation industry, accounting for 50.25% (3859/7679). Among the enterprises with silica dust, coal dust, and noise hazards, the proportion of enterprises where total dust concentration and noise intensity exceed the standard is higher than 50%. 30% of the posts are with an exposure level of silica dust, coal dust, and noise that exceeds the standard. The exceedance rate and the median of the time-weighted average concentration of total coal dust among large and medium-sized enterprises are higher than those among small and micro-sized enterprises (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The dust and noise hazards in the mining industry are lower than in the past in China, but more than 25% of workers are still at a high risk of occupational pneumoconiosis and noise deafness. Therefore, intervention and surveillance strategies should be strengthened in the future.
Humans ; Dust/analysis* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Occupational Health ; Coal ; Silicon Dioxide/analysis* ; Coal Mining

Objective: To explore the changes of γ-GCS mRNA expression and GSH-PX in serum of workers exposed to manganese in order to provide scientific basis for early diagnosis of manganese poisoning. Methods: In June 2017, a total of 180 workers from a motorcycle manufacturer were selected by stratified random sampling, including 115 welders as the exposure group and 65 administrative office workers as the Control Group, the exposure group was divided into high exposure group (43 persons) and low exposure group (72 persons) according to whether the exposure group exceeded the standard limit. The levels of γ-gcs Mrna expression and GSH-Px activity in serum were determined by Occupational Health Survey, and the differences of γ-gcs Mrna expression and GSH-Px activity among different groups were analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, the serum GSH-Px activity was lower and the serum γ-GCS mRNA expression level was higher in the exposed group (F=370.52, 275.95, P<0.01) . Compared with the control group, there was significant difference in γ-GCS mRNA expression level and GSH-Px activity (F=0.475、1.06, P<0.01; F=48.53、111.70, P<0.01) . The concentrations of manganese in air, welding dust and urine were positively correlated with the level of γ-GCS mRNA (r=0.71, 0.50, 0.31, P<0.01) The serum GSH-Px activity was negatively correlated with the concentrations of manganese in air, welding dust and urine (r=-0.80, -0.52, -0.30, P< 0.01) , There was no correlation between Serum γ-GSH-Px activity and age and years of exposure (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Serum γ-GCS mRNA expression level and GSH-Px activity level can be used as early biomarkers of manganese poisoning. The concentrations of manganese in workplace air, welding dust and urine manganese in workers are the influencing factors.
Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Dust ; Humans ; Ions ; Manganese ; Manganese Poisoning ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Welding

Objective: To analyze the post distribution of dust concentration in ferrous metal foundry enterprises and evaluate the occupational health risks, and provide basis for policies of the formulation of pneumoconiosis prevention and control. Methods: From August to September in 2020, the basic information, dust hazard information and occupational health management information of 59 ferrous metal casting enterprises were investigated, the dust concentration distribution was analyzed, and the risk assessment was carried out by using the quantitative assignment model. The dust concentration is tested by LSD method after logarithmic treatment. The 3 times time weighted average allowable exposure concentration of dust is taken as the peak concentration limit of dust; The time weighted average allowable exposure concentration of dust converted by exposure time is taken as the time weighted average exposure concentration limit of dust, and whether the time weighted average exposure concentration and peak concentration of dust at the same post exceed the limit is taken as the basis for exceeding the limit of dust post concentration to calculate the post exceeding the limit rate. Results: The dust hazards were mainly distributed in the posts of sand treatment, molding, sand falling, sand cleaning and cutting and grinding. Dust exposure time weighted average concentration was 0.44 (0.03, 5.11) mg/m(3), peak exposure concentration was 1.30 (0.18, 10.94) mg/m(3), and the over standard rate of Posts was 38.92% (79/203) . Weighted average exposure concentration of other dust (total dust) in the cutting and grinding post is 1.50 (0.15, 7.40) mg/m(3), peak exposure concentration is 0.90 (0.07, 12.48) mg/m(3), and the post exceedance rate is 4.88% (2/41) . Weighted average exposure concentration of silica dust (exhaling dust) in dust operation posts of investment casting enterprises is 0.43 (0.05, 6.35) mg/m(3), peak exposure concentration is 0.90 (0.12, 8.28) mg/m(3), and the post over standard rate is 35.77% (49/137) ; Weighted average exposure concentration of other dust (total dust) at the cutting and grinding post is 2.00 (11.00, 21.00) mg/m(3), and the post exceedance rate is 2.50% (2/80) . There was no significant difference in the concentration of respirable dust between sand casting and investment casting (P>0.05) . The concentration of respirable dust in sand casting was higher than that in sand treatment, molding and sand cleaning posts (P<0.05) . The concentration of silica dust in investment casting was higher than that in sand treatment and molding posts, and that in sand cleaning posts was higher than that in sand treatment posts (P<0.05) . 98.48% (454/461) of the dust operation posts have an occupational health risk value greater than or equal to 400, and 1.52% (7/461) of the dust operation posts have an occupational health risk value of 200~399. Conclusion: there is a high rate of exceeding the standard in the dust work posts in the ferrous metal foundry enterprises in Ningbo, and the workers have a high occupational health risk of pneumoconiosis or metal and its compound pneumoconiosis. Targeted measures should be taken to reduce the occupational health risk.
Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis* ; Dust/analysis* ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Pneumoconiosis ; Sand ; Silicon Dioxide/analysis*

Objective: To evaluate the occupational health risk of organic solvents in major posts of printing industry, and to provide technical reference to take targeted risk control measures. Methods: In January 2021, the contact ratio method was used to assess the occupational health risk of organic solvents in the major posts of 84 printing enterprises in Shantou, and Monte Carto method was used to estimate the probability distribution of risk levels in the majorpostsin January 2021. Results: The highest probability of risk assessment in printing and membranecovering post is Level 4 (high risk) , which are 76.2% and 67.6% respectively; the highest probability of simulation evaluation result in oil blending, dispensing and cleaning post is Level 3 (medium risk) ; and the simulation evaluation result in glueing post are mostly Level 3 (medium risk) and Level 4 (high risk) , the probability of which are 45.7% and 54.3% respectively. Conclusion: The occupational health risk of organic solvents in the major posts is generally middle-high risk level, and then the occupational health risk control of organic solvents in major posts of printing industry should be strengthened.
Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis* ; Industry ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Occupational Health ; Risk Assessment ; Solvents

Artificial quartz dust exposure may cause associated pneumoconiosis. From November 2019 to July 2020, a total of 27 cases of silicosis associated with artificial quartz stone manufacturers were diagnosed and treated in the Occupational disease Department of Suzhou Fifth People's Hospital. The average age of onset was (46.8±6.6) years, and the average working age of dust exposure was (5.7±1.7) years.The main feature of high KV chest radiography is P/S shadow with strip shadow. CT imaging findings showed diffuse small nodules and ground glass shadows with band shadows. The lesions were mainly distributed in the upper lung, accompanied by pleural thickening, lymphadenopathy and calcification. The pulmonary function impairment was mainly mild restrictive ventilation disorder, and the bronchial mucosa longitudinal plica was the main manifestation under tracheoscopy. The age of silicosis of workers in artificial quartz stone production enterprises is younger, the working age of dust exposure is short, the lung function and bronchial mucosa have a certain degree of damage, and effective preventive measures should be taken in time.
Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dust ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Pneumoconiosis/complications* ; Quartz/analysis* ; Silicosis/diagnosis*

Objective: To study the pathological types of lung cancer caused by coke oven emissions and analyze the correlation between different exposure levels. Methods: In October 2020, the relevant data of 86 confirmed cases of lung cancer caused by coke oven emissions (including basic information of patients, relevant occupational exposure and clinical data) were collected, The workers were grouped according to the different COEs concentrations in their posts: workers in auxiliary posts were taken as the low exposure group (11 persons) , The workers at coke side and furnace bottom are the medium exposure group (14 persons) , and the workers at furnace top are the high exposure group (61 persons) , and the correlation between pathological types of lung cancer and different exposure levels was analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in age and length of service among the groups (P>0.05) ; The number of lung cancer cases and pathological types among workers in each group were statistically significant (P=0.044) . After adjusting for interference factors, the number of undifferentiated cancers (mainly small cell lung cancer) increased with the increase of exposure level, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.001) . The incidence of lung cancer increased gradually with the length of service, and the incidence rate of lung cancer among workers of different working ages was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Undifferentiated small cell carcinoma is the most common pathological type of lung cancer caused by coke oven emissions, and the incidence of lung cancer tends to increase with the length of service.
Humans ; Coke/analysis* ; Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis* ; Pyrenes/analysis*