Association between ambient air pollution and hyperuricemia in traffic police officers in China: a cohort study.

To evaluate the association between ambient air pollution and hyperuricemia, we prospectively followed 1748 traffic police officers without hyperuricemia at baseline (2009-2014) from 11 districts in Guangzhou, China. We calculated six-year average PM10, SO2 and NO2 concentrations using data collected from air monitoring stations. The hazard ratios for hyperuricemia per 10 µg/m3 increase in air pollutants were 1.46 (95% CI: 1.28-1.68) for PM10, 1.23 (95% CI: 1.00-1.51) for SO2, and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.26-1.61) for NO2. We also identified changes in the ratio of serum uric acid to serum creatinine concentrations (ua/cre) per 10 µg/m3 increase in air pollutants as 11.54% (95% CI: 8.14%-14.93%) higher for PM10, 5.09% (95% CI: 2.76%-7.42%) higher for SO2, and 5.13% (95% CI: 2.35%-7.92%) higher for NO2, respectively. Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with a higher incidence of hyperuricemia and an increase in ua/cre among traffic police officers.

[Noise hazard and hearing loss in workers in automotive component manufacturing industry in Guangzhou, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate noise hazard and its influence on hearing loss in workers in the automotive component manufacturing industry. METHODS: Noise level in the workplace of automotive component manufacturing enterprises was measured and hearing examination was performed for workers to analyze the features and exposure levels of noise in each process, as well as the influence on hearing loss in workers. RESULTS: In the manufacturing processes for different products in this industry, the manufacturing processes of automobile hub and suspension and steering systems had the highest degrees of noise hazard, with over-standard rates of 79.8% and 57.1%, respectively. In the different technical processes for automotive component manufacturing, punching and casting had the highest degrees of noise hazard, with over-standard rates of 65.0% and 50%, respectively. The workers engaged in the automotive air conditioning system had the highest rate of abnormal hearing ability (up to 3.1%). CONCLUSION: In the automotive component manufacturing industry, noise hazard exceeds the standard seriously. Although the rate of abnormal hearing is lower than the average value of the automobile manufacturing industry in China, this rate tends to increase gradually. Enough emphasis should be placed on the noise hazard in this industry.

[Health status analysis of Guangzhou traffic police officers in 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the health examination results of Guangzhou traffic police officers in 2013, and to investigate their health status and provide a scientific basis for the health management of traffic police officers. METHODS: The physical examination data of the Guangzhou traffic police officers in 2013 were analyzed. The data were sorted in Excel and analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The results showed that 82.95%of the Guangzhou traffic police officers who underwent physical examination in our hospital in 2013 had diseases or abnormal examination indices. The diseases or abnormal examination indices that ranked among the top three were hyperlipidemia (53.70%), hyperuricemia (46.51%), and overweight/obesity (43.43%). All diseases or abnormal examination indices except thyroid diseases were significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). The proportion of diseases or abnormal examination indices varied significantly between different age groups (P < 0.05). Among the 345 female traffic police officers, the prevalence of mammary gland hyperplasia or mammary nodules was the highest, and the prevalence of mammary gland hyperplasia or mammary nodules, cervicitis, and uterine fibroids varied significantly between different age groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The health problems in Guangzhou traffic police officers are serious, especially chronic noninfectious diseases. Therefore, both society and individuals should take effective measures in order to deal with this problem. Regular health check-ups are necessary to promote good health for Guangzhou traffic police officers.

[Investigation of screening methods for identifying population susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the screening methods for identifying the populations susceptible and resistant to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and to provide a reference for future research. METHODS: Workers who were exposed to 75 ∼ 120 dB noise in enterprises were included in the study. Field investigation of occupational health was conducted; workers' basic information and data on hearing threshold levels were collected. Paired chi-square test was used to compare each two of three screening methods, which were used at home and abroad to identify noise-susceptible and noise-sensitive populations, in terms of noise exposure level, general information, and noise-induced hearing threshold shift. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the noise exposure level, basic information, and left and right ears' hearing threshold levels of noise-susceptible and noise-sensitive populations between each two of the three screening methods (P > 0.05), according to the paired chi-square test. However, high-frequency hearing threshold had statistically significant difference among the three methods. As a whole, methods B and C were superior to method A. CONCLUSION: The workers in China are younger than before, with more awareness of self-protection, and individual protection is enhanced in them. Currently, method B is more suitable for screening out the population susceptible to NIHL in China.