{"title":"Impact of Occupational Lead Exposure on the Comprehensive Health Status of Gas Cutter Workers","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.cegh.2024.101820","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Occupational exposure to hazardous substances, particularly in involving metal cutting and welding industries, poses critical public health concern. This study assesses the health status of gas cutter workers, focusing on Pb exposure.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>In this cross-sectional study, 40 participants with BLL ≥ 20 μg/dL were recruited from workers engaged in oxy-acetylene metal cutting. These workers were compared to an age-, sex-, and sociodemographic-matched control group (n=42) from the same workplace. Health assessments including routine clinical and laboratory investigations along with BLL, and markers of calcium homeostasis were carried out.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Gas cutters exhibited significantly higher mean systolic BP and elevated SGOT levels, with similar prevalence of respiratory symptoms and musculoskeletal disorders in both groups. No significant differences were found in most hematological, liver, and renal parameters. However, gas cutters had significantly higher PTH levels and lower serum vitamin D levels. Pulmonary function tests indicated significantly reduced FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF25-75%, and PEFR in gas cutters, as well as markedly higher CRP levels.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Gas cutters experience significant health impacts compared to controls, including elevated systolic BP, impaired pulmonary function, and disturbance in calcium homeostasis due to occupational Pb exposure. Higher CRP levels suggest notable inflammatory responses. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and regular monitoring to mitigate health risks associated with Pb exposure among gas cutter workers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46404,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398424003178","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Occupational exposure to hazardous substances, particularly in involving metal cutting and welding industries, poses critical public health concern. This study assesses the health status of gas cutter workers, focusing on Pb exposure.
Method
In this cross-sectional study, 40 participants with BLL ≥ 20 μg/dL were recruited from workers engaged in oxy-acetylene metal cutting. These workers were compared to an age-, sex-, and sociodemographic-matched control group (n=42) from the same workplace. Health assessments including routine clinical and laboratory investigations along with BLL, and markers of calcium homeostasis were carried out.
Results
Gas cutters exhibited significantly higher mean systolic BP and elevated SGOT levels, with similar prevalence of respiratory symptoms and musculoskeletal disorders in both groups. No significant differences were found in most hematological, liver, and renal parameters. However, gas cutters had significantly higher PTH levels and lower serum vitamin D levels. Pulmonary function tests indicated significantly reduced FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF25-75%, and PEFR in gas cutters, as well as markedly higher CRP levels.
Conclusion
Gas cutters experience significant health impacts compared to controls, including elevated systolic BP, impaired pulmonary function, and disturbance in calcium homeostasis due to occupational Pb exposure. Higher CRP levels suggest notable inflammatory responses. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and regular monitoring to mitigate health risks associated with Pb exposure among gas cutter workers.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health (CEGH) is a multidisciplinary journal and it is published four times (March, June, September, December) a year. The mandate of CEGH is to promote articles on clinical epidemiology with focus on developing countries in the context of global health. We also accept articles from other countries. It publishes original research work across all disciplines of medicine and allied sciences, related to clinical epidemiology and global health. The journal publishes Original articles, Review articles, Evidence Summaries, Letters to the Editor. All articles published in CEGH are peer-reviewed and published online for immediate access and citation.