Impact of welding occupation on serum aluminium level and its association with physical health, cognitive function, and quality of life: a cross-sectional study

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Pub Date : 2023-12-18 DOI:10.1007/s00420-023-02038-8

Ogochukwu Kelechi Onyeso, Arinze Kingsley Ugwu, Henrietha Chibuzor Adandom, Suha Damag, Kelechi Mirabel Onyeso, James Okechukwu Abugu, Okwukweka Emmanuela Aruma, Adesola Christiana Odole, Oluwaghohunmi A. Awosoga, Charles Ikechukwu Ezema

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

There is an occupational health concern about welders’ inhalation of toxic aluminium fumes. We investigated whether serum aluminium level (SAL) and demographic variables can significantly predict physical health parameters, cognition, and quality of life (QoL) among welders.

Methods

The cross-sectional study involved 100 age- and location-matched men (50 welders and 50 non-welders). SAL obtained using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer, and data collected using blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) apparatuses, biodata form, pain rating scale, General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition, WHOQoL-BREF, and Nordic musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) questionnaire were analysed using independent samples t test, chi-square, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical linear regression.

Results

Welders had significantly higher SAL (mean difference [MD] = 1.77 µg/L, p < 0.001), lower QoL (MD = 3.92, p = 0.039), and higher prevalence of MSS on the neck (χ² = 10.187, p = 0.001), shoulder (χ² = 9.007, p = 0.003), upper back (χ² = 6.832, p = 0.009), and knee (χ² = 12.190, p < 0.001) than non-welders. There was a significant bivariate association between SAL, systolic blood pressure (β = 0.313, p = 0.002), and BMI (β = 0.279, p = 0.005), but not pain intensity, cognition, or QoL. SAL remained a significant predictor of systolic blood pressure after adjustment for physical health and QoL parameters (β = 0.191, p = 0.044). The association between SAL and social QoL became significant after adjustment for physical health and other QoL domains (β = − 0.210, p = 0.032) and demographic variables (β = − 0.233, p = 0.046).

Conclusion

Welders had significantly higher SAL, musculoskeletal symptoms, blood pressure, and lower QoL than non-welders. SAL was associated with adverse physical health parameters and social-related QoL, not cognition. We recommend routine aluminium bioavailability and physical health checks among welders.

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焊接职业对血清铝水平的影响及其与身体健康、认知功能和生活质量的关系：一项横断面研究

目的人们对电焊工吸入有毒铝烟雾的职业健康问题十分关注。我们研究了血清铝水平（SAL）和人口统计学变量是否能显著预测电焊工的身体健康参数、认知能力和生活质量（QoL）。方法这项横断面研究涉及 100 名年龄和地点匹配的男性（50 名电焊工和 50 名非电焊工）。使用石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪获得 SAL 值，并使用血压和体重指数 (BMI) 仪器、生物数据表、疼痛评分量表、全科医生认知评估、WHOQoL-BREF 和北欧肌肉骨骼症状 (MSS) 问卷收集数据，然后使用独立样本 t 检验、卡方检验、皮尔逊相关性和分层线性回归进行分析。结果焊工的 SAL 值明显更高（平均差 [MD] = 1.77 µg/L，p = 0.001），QoL 值更低（MD = 3.92，p = 0.039），颈部 MSS 患病率更高（χ2 = 10.187，p = 0.001）、肩部（χ2 = 9.007，p = 0.003）、上背部（χ2 = 6.832，p = 0.009）和膝部（χ2 = 12.190，p <0.001）的 MSS 患病率高于非焊接工。SAL、收缩压（β = 0.313，p = 0.002）和体重指数（BMI）（β = 0.279，p = 0.005）之间有明显的双变量关联，但疼痛强度、认知能力或 QoL 之间没有关联。在对身体健康和 QoL 参数进行调整后，SAL 仍是收缩压的重要预测因素（β = 0.191，p = 0.044）。在对身体健康和其他 QoL 领域（β = - 0.210，p = 0.032）以及人口统计学变量（β = - 0.233，p = 0.046）进行调整后，SAL 与社会 QoL 之间的关系变得显著。SAL 与不利的身体健康参数和与社会相关的 QoL 相关，而与认知能力无关。我们建议对电焊工进行常规铝生物利用率和身体健康检查。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

6.70%

发文量

127

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health publishes Editorials, Review Articles, Original Articles, and Letters to the Editor. It welcomes any manuscripts dealing with occupational or ambient environmental problems, with a special interest in research at the interface of occupational health and clinical medicine. The scope ranges from Biological Monitoring to Dermatology, from Fibers and Dust to Human Toxicology, from Nanomaterials and Ultra-fine Dust to Night- and Shift Work, from Psycho-mental Distress and Burnout to Vibrations. A complete list of topics can be found on the right-hand side under For authors and editors. In addition, all papers should be based on present-day standards and relate to: -Clinical and epidemiological studies on morbidity and mortality -Clinical epidemiological studies on the parameters relevant to the estimation of health risks -Human experimental studies on environmental health effects. Animal experiments are only acceptable if relevant to pathogenic aspects. -Methods for studying the topics mentioned above.