Urinary hydroxypyrene and estradiol in an occupationally exposed "outdoor" population.

BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely present in the air pollution. The urinary hydroxypyrene (1-HOPu) is considered the main biological biomarker currently available to measure the exposure to PAH. It is supposed responsible of an increase of estradiol levels in males. Aim of this study is to verify whether there is a relation between 1-HOPu and plasmatic estradiol in non-smoker male workers. METHODS: The study was conducted on a sample of 122 non-smoker policemen in a large Italian city; we monitored their levels of 1-HOPu and the values of estradiol. The sample was divided into three groups according to the levels of urinary hydroxypyrene. The indices of correlation (r) and multiple linear regression (ß), between levels of 1-HOPu and estradiol were calculated. It was also calculated the student's t-test among the groups to check the differences. RESULTS: We found statistically significant correlations and multivariate linear regressions between 1-HOPu and estradiol in the total sample and in group III (levels of 1-HOPu above the 75th percentile). The average levels of estradiol in group III was statistically and significantly higher than in the group I (levels of 1-HOPu below the 25th percentile) and group II (levels 1-HOPu between 25th and the 75th percentile). CONCLUSIONS: 1-HOPu in non-smoker male workers is related with an increase of plasmatic estradiol. We believe that PAHs, of which 1-HOPu is the main biomarker, can interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The preliminary results suggest that the topic needs further research on male and female as well.

Liver damage in automotive and industrial workers of the glass.

OBJECTIVE: High doses of organic solvents can cause hepatic disease. We investigated whether exposure to low doses of solvents in automotive and industrial workers may lead to changes in liver tests. METHODS: We studied the liver parameters (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl-traspeptidasi (γ-GT), alkaline phosphatase (PHA), total (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB) of 24 workers exposed to organic solvents and of 30 unexposed controls. RESULTS: A significant increase of GOT, GPT and γ-GT was found in exposed workers compared to unexposed controls workers. The ratio GPT/GOT was significantly higher among the exposed compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirmed the hypothesis that exposure to low doses of solvents may determine a liver damage.

Thyroid hormones in male workers exposed to urban stressors.

BACKGROUND: The occupational exposure to urban pollution may induce adverse effects on the human health. METHODS: Plasma levels of thyrotropin stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) of 50 outdoor workers and 50 indoor workers were compared. RESULTS: In the outdoor workers the TSH levels were significantly higher than in the control subjects (p =0.02) while the average of FT3 and FT4 values, was not significantly different compared to the controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The differences found for TSH levels between outdoor and indoor workers, though not high, suggest that, due to greater exposure to environmental pollutants, the outdoor workers are more susceptible to the development of function abnormalities of the thyroid gland compared to indoor workers.

Workers of the printing industry and hepatic damage.

BACKGROUND: Typesetting industry is still the primary instrument of communication, despite the development of new technological systems. This study focuses on the analysis of the hepatic effects induced by the use of some organic solvents employed in the printing industry. METHODS: We studied a group of 194 workers: 93 exposed and 101 not exposed. The level of the exposure to chemical pollutants were assessed through the environmental monitoring of blood concentrations and the analysis of airborne substances. The health survey was performed through the collection of the medical history and the use of hepatic tests, which were evaluated by calculating Mean, Standard Deviation, Student's t-test and X² test with Yates Correction, to investigate statistically significant differences in some hepatic parameters: AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, fractional and total bilirubin. The environmental data sometimes exceeded the TLV-TWA. RESULTS: The clinical evaluation of the hepatic parameters showed statistically significant differences as to the hematic concentrations of AST, ALT, GGT. CONCLUSIONS: The results we obtained support the hypothesis of a risk among the printing industrial workers attributable to the hepatotoxic solvents. This risk seems to be related to the use of a mixture of solvents, although at low doses, and the analysis of the results obtained confirms the validity of the investigation for the health screening protocol adopted in order to identify subjects and/or population at risk of hepatotoxicity.

Correlation between urinary nickel and testosterone plasma values in workers occupationally exposed to urban stressors.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess whether occupational exposure to low doses of nickel (Ni) present in urban air can cause alterations in the concentration of plasma testosterone in workers of the Municipal Police of a large Italian city assigned to different types of outdoor tasks. METHODS: 359 male subjects were included in the study and divided on the basis of job, age, length of service and smoking habits. The dosage of the atmospheric Ni was performed by personal dosimetries on a sample of the workers included in the study. For each worker included in the study the dosage of whole blood Ni and of the plasma testosterone was carried out. The total sample was subjected to the independent-samples T-test and the Mann-Whitney U test for variables with 2 modes (smoking cigarette) and the ANOVA test and the Kruskal Wallis test for variables with more than 2 modes (age, length of service and job function). The correlation of Pearson with p at 2 wings between the variables was evaluated in the total sample and after subdivision on the basis of smoking and on the basis of the job. After taking into account the major confounding factors the multiple linear regression was performed on the total sample and after breakdown by tasks. RESULTS: The correlation between the values of urinary Ni and the values of plasma testosterone on the total sample and for all classes of subdivision was found constantly negative. These results were confirmed by multiple linear regression, which indicated the Ni as the only significant variable that can contribute to the alterations of the testosterone. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, the Authors suggest that occupational exposure to low doses of Ni present in the urban environment is able to influence some lines of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in exposed workers.

Evaluation of some cardiovascular risk parameters in health professionals exposed to night work.

BACKGROUND: Shift work and night work in particular represent a risk factor for the health of exposed workers; aim of our study is to evaluate whether night work may cause alteration of some cardiovascular risk parameters in health workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was carried out on 415 health workers, 163 exposed to night work and 252 not exposed. A blood sample was taken from each worker, between 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. before lunch time, to test total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Blood pressure and heart rate were also measured. Workers with cardiovascular diseases, thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, those who made use of antihypertensive drugs, hypoglycemic and/or lipid-lowering drugs, subjects with body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) higher than 30 were excluded. RESULTS: In the group of exposed compared to controls, increasing values of arterial pressure and heart rate, were not significant. The mean values of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in exposed compared to controls while values of HDL cholesterol were significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS: Night workers have clinically significant changes in blood levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, such alterations are presumably related to poor food hygiene and to psychosocial stressors.

Relationship between occupational exposure to cadmium, transaminases and γ-GT in workers exposed to urban stressors.

BACKGROUND: The exposure to Cd has been linked to many disease and liver is the major target organ of Cd toxicity following acute or chronic exposure.No study has ever evaluated the association between liver function tests and exposure to Cd present in urban air in outdoor workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to assess the relationship between the exposure to urban Cd and the associated changes in liver functionality markers, we conducted a study on 110 municipal policemen divided into 2 groups according to their tasks: 60 traffic policemen and 50 drivers, underwent tests for the determination of the urinary values of Cd correlated with the blood levels of transaminases and ?-GT. Moreover we investigated the exposure to Cd in the air through a personal dosimetry on a subgroup of 40 subjects (20 traffic policemen 20 police drivers). RESULTS: The results showed that the average personal exposure to air Cd was significantly higher in traffic policemen than drivers. Furthermore, in the subset of 40 subjects and in the total sample of 110 subjects, the mean values of urinary Cd were significantly higher in traffic policemen rather than in the police drivers. No significant difference was observed in the mean values of liver functionality in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the few studies on the effects of the exposure to Cd in big cities, the results of the present study offers useful information about occupational exposure to Cd on the road and in the car and the lack of effects on liver function.

Exposure to solvents in health care workers: assessment of the hepatic effects.

OBJECTIVES: The use of organic solvents has been linked to pathologies of different apparatuses. The purpose of this study is to analyze the liver damage induced by organic solvents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 556 workers, 278 exposed to organic solvents (group 1) and 278 not exposed to organic solvents (group 2). The exposed group was further divided into 2 subgroups: group 1A (139 workers exposed to considerable doses) and group 1B (139 workers exposed to negligible doses). Mean and standard deviation of some liver parameters was calculated. Statistically significant differences between the liver parameters in the different groups and subgroups were detected using the t-test. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the associations between laboratory parameters and the independent variable. RESULTS: The data so far obtained showed the existence of statistically significant differences with regard to the total protein, total bilirubin, transaminase GOT and GPT, Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (gamma-GT). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that exposure to solvents can alter some liver parameters. The blood tests we used can be useful tool for the assessment of the actual occupational hazards and to verify the effectiveness of the measures taken for the prevention and protection.

Dynamic blood pressure in workers exposed to urban stressors.

BACKGROUND: The occupational exposure to urban pollution may induce adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. METHODS: Basal blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG) and the dynamic blood pressure monitoring during the work shift of 16 policemen (outdoors workers) and 16 administrative employees (indoor workers) were compared. RESULTS: The mean value of all the diastolic blood pressure surveys in policemen (84,53 ± 10,78) is significantly higher (p = 0,014) than the mean value of all the diastolic blood pressure surveys in indoor workers (82,74 ± 11.52). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that the occupational exposure to urban stressors may induce an increase of the diastolic blood pressure in workers during the working hours.

Liver function in workers exposed of the cosmetics industry.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess whether occupational exposure to substances used in the cosmetic factories may cause effects on the liver and blood counts in exposed workers. METHODS: The study included 48 exposed workers and 86 unexposed controls. All workers included in the study underwent blood count, white blood count, total, direct and indirect bilirubin, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and cholinesterase. The differences between the means and frequencies were compared using the Student's t-test and chi-square test with Yates correction and were considered significant when the p value was <0.05. RESULTS: The analysis of the results shows that 35.4% of workers in the cosmetics industry had liver test values above the range. We noted a statistically significant higher prevalence of GPT (p <0.05) and total bilirubin (p <0.05) in the workers of the cosmetics industry compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest that occupational exposure to low doses of substances used in the cosmetic industry is able to influence some liver parameters in occupationally exposed workers.

[Meta analysis blood and urinary values in urban pollution exposed workers]. / Meta-analisi di indicatori di effetto in lavoratori esposti ad inquinamento urbano.

INTRODUCTION: Aim of this study is evaluating alteration of neuro-immune-endocrine parameters in exposed workers and estimating whether urban pollution can modify them. METHODS: Literature research. Different categories of exposed workers were included in the study (7287) and compared with controls (8054). To calculate results Effect Size (ES) and confidence interval were used. RESULTS: A correlation between urban pollution exposition and some neurogenic mediators and metabolites alterations was demonstrated; blood values can be alterated by toxicity of benzene and by xenobiotic metabolites' mechanism; follicle stimulating hormone is significantly increased in exposed versus controls. CONCLUSIONS: High heterogeneity and literature limitations, together with results of this meta analysis, induce to believe that is necessary to deepen the research about urban pollution effects on these parameters.

[Meta analysis indices of genotoxic damage in urban pollution exposed workers]. / Meta analisi degli indici di danno genotossico in lavoratori esposti a inquinamento urbano.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine if urban pollution can modify indices of genotoxic damage. METHODS: Research of articles inherent in the evaluation of these alterations. Differents categories of exposed workers are included in the study (cases, in number of 7287) and compaired with no exposed workers (controls, in number of 8054). To calculate the result of meta-analysis the Effect Size (ES) was used and the confidence interval was calculated. RESULTS: In this category we evaluated 54 studies and we observed significantly differences in the complex. CONCLUSIONS: Starting from the individual variables analysis investigated, between exposed and not exposed group, we underline the utility to deepen the studies concerning of these parameters, to appreciate their benefits and to safeguard health of exposed workers.

Environmental and biological monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in outdoor workers exposed to urban stressor.

BACKGROUND: Purpose of this study is to evaluate and to compare the excretion of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPu) in traffic policemen (TP) and drivers (D) of a large Italian city and to evaluate the existence and the degree of correlation between airborne exposure to 15 different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 1-OHPu levels in the examined population. METHODS: 192 male workers, 115 TP and 77 D, were monitored for 1-HOPu. A subgroup of non-smoking workers (subgroup B: 59 TP and 15 D) was also examined and 15 environmental PAHs was monitored through the personal samplings for the measurement of the particulate phase. RESULTS: The 1-OHPu levels and the values of personal airborne exposure to PAHs were significantly higher among non-smoking TP than among non-smoking D (p < 0.05). In subgroup B the levels of environmental exposure to all the 15 PAHs measured in TP and only 6 of 15 PAHs measured in D were significantly correlated with the values of 1-OHPu (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the use of 1-OHPu as an indicator of exposure to PAHs is reliable also for what concerns the study of the low-dose work-related exposure in urban outdoor workers.

Cadmium blood/urine levels and blood pressure in workers occupationally exposed to urban stressor.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) is a metal, which induces hypertension in animals. This may not be relevant to the human population because the number of studies is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to identify an association between levels of blood/urinary cadmium and blood pressure in a group of employees of the municipal police assigned to outdoor activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 349 subjects of both sexes were enrolled and sorted on the basis of gender, job function and smoking habit. Blood and urinary cadmium levels and blood pressure readings were collected for each subject. The data were subjected to statistical evaluation. Pearson correlation coefficient between the variables and a linear regression curve was drawn. After eliminating the confounding factors, the multiple linear regression analysis assessed statistical differences. Associations were considered significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The Pearson correlation showed a positive association between urinary cadmium levels and blood pressure especially for groups of women and non-smokers. The simple and multiple linear regression and t-tests confirmed these associations and underlined the influence cadmium has on diastolic blood pressure, higher than systolic blood pressure. No association was found between blood cadmium and blood pressure. In conclusion, we can say that there is a statistically significant association between urinary cadmium and diastolic blood pressure, supporting the hypothesis that cadmium has a long-term effect on diastolic blood pressure (BP).

Professional exposure to ionizing radiations in health workers and white blood cells.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to estimate if low dose of occupational exposure to ionizing radiations can cause alterations of plasma concentrations of total white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes (eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils), in the health workers of a big hospital. METHODS: 266 non smokers subjects of both sexes (133 health workers and 133 controls) were included in this study, compared on the basis of sex, age and working seniority. The complete blood count (CBC) was performed in all included workers. RESULTS: The differences between the mean values were compared using Student T-test for unpaired data. The frequencies of the single variables were compared using Chi (2) test with Yates correction. The differences were considered significant when the P values were < 0.05. The mean values and the distribution of the mean values of total white blood cell were significantly decreased in health workers of both sexes compared to controls. The average values of granulocytes neutrophils were significantly low in female health workers compared to female controls. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results suggest that low dose of occupational exposure to ionizing radiations is able to influence some lines of the hematopoietic system in exposed workers.

Perceived stress and stress-related parameters.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate, using a questionnaire developed by our research group, whether occupational exposure to physical, chemical and psychosocial urban stressors can lead to alterations in perceived stress in a group of both male and female outdoor workers. The study also examines possible correlations between the levels of stress as inferred from the scores of the questionnaire and the levels of certain stress-related parameters (prolactin levels, consumption of coffee, chocolate, alcohol and cigarette smoking). METHODS: We evaluated a final sample of 480 subjects (342 male and 138 female). All workers included in the study were divided into three groups on the basis of scores of the questionnaire. RESULTS: About 60% of workers showed a moderate or severe stress condition, with a statistically significant prevalence of female workers and younger subjects. There was a statistically significant correlation between the questionnaire score and the mean levels of stress-related parameters. The increase of perceived stress increases significantly the mean levels of prolactin and the consumption of coffee, chocolate and cigarettes. There was no statistically significant differences for alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that exposure to chemical physical and psycho-social urban stressors can influence perceived stress in outdoor workers. The questionnaire used in our research could be an useful instruments for physicians during the health surveillance visits

[Dietary intervention programs in the workplace: an effective prevention strategy]. / I programmi di intervento nutrizionale nei luoghi di lavoro: una interessante strategia preventiva.

The main purpose of our meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of workplace dietary intervention on several variables. We made a systematic literature search by selecting articles published up to September 2009. Only 18 studies were deemed suitable for inclusion criteria considered in our meta-analysis. Among the dietary variables there was significant difference between the two groups after the administration of nutritional intervention programs. A significant improvement was also observed between the anthropometric and metabolic variables. No significant change was instead documented in relation to functional variables (systolic and diastolic pressure). Workplace dietary intervention, improving nutritional, anthropometrical and metabolic variables, can be identified as effective prevention strategy toward chronic diseases.

[Techniques of communication and information-formation of the workers]. / Tecniche della comunicazione e informazione-formazione dei lavoratori.

Communication has always had a very important role among human activities. Communication is: a Source sending a Message to an Addressee within a Context through a Contact thanks to a Code. In 1965 Umberto Eco developed the concept of Aberrant Decoding that is the wrong decoding of the message by the addressee. As to communication D.Lgs81/08 e s.m.i. fixes the following rules. Information of workers (Art. 36/1)--The employer is responsible for the workers to have the right information about risks for health and safety in their specific workplaces, etc. Formation of workers (Art 37/1)--The employer is responsible for the workers to have adequate and proper formation as to health and safety with regard to linguistic knowledge. Therefore it is really important for a Company to establish real communication between management and workers and among workers, to have a frequent feedback and to let information circulate in order to have all safety regulations followed properly.

[Radon risk and prevention]. / Rischio radon e prevenzione.

The chemical element Radon is the strongest source of natural ionizing radiations for men and it is responsible of some patologies, such as lungs cancer. The concentration of this gas in houses is in Italy on average 70-75 Bq/m3. Apart from a regulative first step, represented by the 2002 Radon National Plan, at the moment there are no specified rules regarding the risks of exposition to radon in general population. On the contrary, safeguarding workers exposed to natural sources of radiation, working places are regulated by legislative decrees. In order to carry out corrective actions in case of high rates, it is necessary to correctly measure the expositional levels both with active and passive instruments. The topical knowledge about radon and its effects urge us to take preventive and reductive measures, protecting the well-being if population.

[Meta-analysis: cardiovascular effects in workers occupationally exposed to urban pollution]. / Metanalisi: effetti sull'apparato cardiovascolare in lavoratori esposti a inquinamento urbano.

BACKGROUND: Many studies showed a connection between exposition to high levels of urban pollution (especially to particulate and traffic noise) and the onset of even deadly cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of case-control design. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to estimate the association between cardiovascular effects and occupational exposition to atmospheric pollution in urban environment. DATA SOURCES: Biomedcentral, MEDLINE/ PubMed, MEDLINE/ National Library of Medicine (NLM), MEDLINE Plus, Nioshtic-2, Scopus, TOXNET/Toxline, unpublished studies known by the authors and acts of national and international conferences between 1988 and May 2010 included. There has not been any kind of language or typological restriction. CRITERIA OF ELEGIBILITY: The research on cardiovascular effects includes control cases of workers exposed to urban pollution, compared with non-exposed subjects. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: The selected studies present outdoor workers exposed to urban pollution (drivers and petrol pump attendants) and a control group of indoor workers (managers, university students and other selected subjects). STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: The evidences (independently token from two different authors) have been grouped in two classes, the first one formed by continuous variables (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides) and the second one by discontinuous variables (electrocardiographic abnormalities prevalence, hypertension prevalence, hypercholesterolemia prevalence). The studies related to both classes and presenting more than one variable for each class have been included and used, in order to elaborate the results. We calculated heterogeneity in each variable (ES calculation for continuous variables and OR calculation for discontinuous variables). RESULTS: On 378 publications, we have selected and included 16 articles. The variables show statistically irrelevant differences between exposed group and control group, except regarding the triglycerides. LIMITATIONS: The controlled studies are limited and characterized by a non-homogeneous evaluation of both expositional times of workers to urban pollution and of professional expositional values. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: Considering the heterogeneity and the lack of studies, it is impossible at the moment to document effects on the cardiovascular system in workers exposed to urban pollution. The results of this meta-analysis only suggest the association of urban pollution with alteration of triglycerides blood levels (referring to just three studies). As reported in scientific literature on this subject, it is necessary to conduct a future professional investigation on this subject with more qualified and homogeneous studies.