Maria Wielsøe, Manhai Long, Jakob Hjort Bønløkke, Rossana Bossi, Niels E Ebbehøj, Kurt Rasmussen, Torben Sigsgaard, Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
{"title":"Persistent organic pollutants among seafood processing workers in West Greenland.","authors":"Maria Wielsøe, Manhai Long, Jakob Hjort Bønløkke, Rossana Bossi, Niels E Ebbehøj, Kurt Rasmussen, Torben Sigsgaard, Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114484","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114484","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Greenlandic population is highly exposed to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) through the consumption of traditional marine food, including marine mammals. Central to Greenland's economy and cultural identity, the fishing industry employes about 15% of the working population. This study investigated POP exposure, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), among seafood processing workers at the Greenlandic west coast. We examined determinants for the POPs including age, smoking habits, ethnicity, and working place. Additionally, we explored the association between POPs and the prevalence of asthma, allergy, and lung function. With samples taken during 2016-2018, the study encompassed 382 workers, primarily of Inuit descent (93%), employed across three large factories located in Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat, four smaller factories in settlements (Kangaatsiaq, Ikerasaarsuk, Sarfannguaq, Qeqertarsuaq), and four factory trawlers. Data collected include clinical examinations, questionnaires on ethnicity, occupational exposure status, health indicators, and smoking habits, and serum selenium and POP analyses. We used ANCOVA with adjustment for relevant confounders to assess differences in POPs between groups (e.g. ethnic groups and working place), and multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to assess associations between POPs and lung function, allergy and asthma. Significant differences in POPs were observed among ethnic groups; Faroese workers had the highest concentrations of lipophilic POPs (lipPOPs; PCBs and OCPs), while Inuit workers exhibited highest PFASs. All subsequent analyses were focused on the Inuit workers (n = 337). The PFASs were significantly higher in workers at small factories, followed by large factories and trawlers, whereas no differences were seen for lipPOPs. The differences between the working places were most likely due to differences in lifestyle and diet, but occupational exposures cannot be excluded. LipPOP and PFAS concentrations associated positively with selenium, and PFASs positively associated with lung function. However, upon adjustment of selenium, the associations between PFASs and lung function became non-significant and attenuated towards null. No significant associations were found between POPs and the prevalence of asthma or allergy. Compared to the general population in the same area and period, the seafood processing workers exhibited 2-6 times higher POP levels. The higher exposure level among seafood processing workers, as well as the difference across workplaces, underscore the need for further investigation of environmental and occupational sources of POPs in this population. These findings may contribute to future public health strategies and regulatory measures to reduce POP exposure in Arctic populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94049,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142607665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anne Thoustrup Saber, Marcus Levin, Pete Kines, Kukka Aimonen, Lucas Givelet, Christina Andersen, Anja Julie Huusom, Tanja Carøe, Niels Erik Ebbehøj, Frans Møller Christensen, Zheshun Jiang, Thomas Lundh, Håkan Tinnerberg, Maria Albin, Malin Engfeldt, Karin Broberg, Julia Catalan, Katrin Loeschner, Karsten Fuglsang, Ulla Vogel
{"title":"The SAM-Krom biomonitoring study shows occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium and increased genotoxicity in Denmark.","authors":"Anne Thoustrup Saber, Marcus Levin, Pete Kines, Kukka Aimonen, Lucas Givelet, Christina Andersen, Anja Julie Huusom, Tanja Carøe, Niels Erik Ebbehøj, Frans Møller Christensen, Zheshun Jiang, Thomas Lundh, Håkan Tinnerberg, Maria Albin, Malin Engfeldt, Karin Broberg, Julia Catalan, Katrin Loeschner, Karsten Fuglsang, Ulla Vogel","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114444","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114444","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a carcinogen. Exposure to Cr(VI) may occur in different industrial processes such as chrome plating and stainless steel welding. The aim of this study was to assess occupational exposure to Cr(VI) in Denmark.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 28 workers and 8 apprentices with potential Cr(VI) exposure and 24 within company controls, all recruited from six companies and one vocational school. Use of occupational safety and health (OSH) risk prevention measures were assessed through triangulation of interviews, a questionnaire and systematic observations. Inhalable Cr(VI) and Cr-total were assessed by personal air exposure measurements on Cr(VI) exposed participants and stationary measurements. Cr concentrations were measured in urine and in red blood cells (RBC) (the latter reflecting Cr(VI)). Genotoxicity was assessed by measurement of micronuclei in peripheral blood reticulocytes (MNRET).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At announced visits, a consistent high degree of compliance to OSH risk prevention measures were seen in 'chromium bath plating' for both technical devices (e.g. ventilation, plastic balls, sheet coverings) and in the use of personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, respirators), yet a lesser degree of compliance was observed in 'stainless steel welding'. The geometric mean of the air concentration of Cr(VI) was 0.26 μg/m<sup>3</sup> (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.12-0.57) for the Cr(VI)-exposed workers and 3.69 μg/m<sup>3</sup> (95% CI: 1.47-9.25) for the Cr(VI)-exposed apprentices. Subdivided by company type, the exposure levels were 0.13 μg/m<sup>3</sup> (95% CI: 0.04-0.41) for companies manufacturing and processing metal products, and 0.81 μg/m<sup>3</sup> (95% CI: 0.46-1.40) for bath plating companies. Workers with occupational exposure to Cr(VI) had significantly higher median levels of urinary Cr (2.42 μg/L, 5th-95th percentile 0.28-58.39), Cr in RBC (0.89 μg/L, 0.54-4.92) and MNRET (1.59 ‰, 0.78-10.92) compared to the within company controls (urinary: 0.40 μg/L, 0.16-21.3, RBC: 0.60 μg/L, 0.50-0.93,MNRET: 1.06 ‰, 0.71-2.06). When sub-dividing by company type, urinary Cr (4.61 μg/L, 1.72-69.5), Cr in RBC (1.33 μg/L, 0.95-4.98) and MNRET (1.89 μg/L, 0.78-12.92) levels were increased for workers with potential Cr(VI) exposure in bath-plating companies, and when subdividing by work task, workers engaged in process operation had increased levels of urinary Cr (8.51 μg/L, 1.71-69.5), Cr in RBC (1.33 μg/L, 0.95-4.98) and MNRET (1.89 μg/L, 0.82-12.92) levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This biomonitoring study shows that bath platers were highly exposed to Cr(VI), as suggested by relatively high levels of urinary Cr, Cr in RBC and increased levels of micronuclei. The urinary Cr concentrations were high when compared to the French biological limit value of 2.5 μg Cr/L, corresponding to the Danish occupational exposure limi","PeriodicalId":94049,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P Püschel, K M Agbeko, A A Amoabeng-Nti, J Arko-Mensah, J Bertram, J N Fobil, S Waldschmidt, K Löhndorf, T Schettgen, M Lakemeyer, A Morrison, T Küpper
{"title":"Corrigendum to \"Lead exposure by E-waste disposal and recycling in Agbogbloshie, Ghana\" [Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health 259C (2024) 114375].","authors":"P Püschel, K M Agbeko, A A Amoabeng-Nti, J Arko-Mensah, J Bertram, J N Fobil, S Waldschmidt, K Löhndorf, T Schettgen, M Lakemeyer, A Morrison, T Küpper","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114446","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114446","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94049,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142157052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Commentary on: Lead exposure by E-waste disposal and recycling in Agbogbloshie, Ghana by Püschel et al. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 259 (2024).","authors":"A Kaifie","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114445","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114445","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94049,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}