[Blood disorders among workers exposed to a mixture of benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) in a paint factory]. / Alteraciones hematológicas en trabajadores expuestos ocupacionalmente a mezcla de benceno- tolueno-xileno (BTX) en una fábrica de pinturas.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the three blood cell series and identify the presence of hypochromia, macrocytosis, leucopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia in a group of workers exposed to the mixture of benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study which included 97 workers from a paint factory in Mexico. The participants underwent conventional blood count and tests for potential cumulative daily dose of BTX fumes, to estimate exposure. RESULTS: From the total of workers, 19.6% showed macrocytosis, 18.6%, lymphopenia, hypochromia 10.3%, 7.2% and 5.2% thrombocytopenia leukopenia. The crude association of macrocytosis with exposure to high doses of BTX mixture was the only with statistical significance (OR: 3.6, 95% CI 1.08 to 13.9, P = 0.02), and the base for a logistic regression model (OR: 6.7, 95% CI 1.33 to 13.55, P = 0.02) adjusted for age, alcohol consumption, and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: All blood cytological components analyzed demonstrated mild changes, potentially associated with exposure to the mixture of BTX. Macrocytosis could constitute an early manifestation worthy for surveillance.

Alteraciones hematológicas en trabajadores expuestos ocupacionalmente a mezcla de benceno- tolueno-xileno (BTX) en una fábrica de pinturas / Blood disorders among workers exposed to a mixture of benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) in a paint factory

Objetivos. Evaluar las tres series celulares sanguíneas e identificar la presencia de hipocromía, macrocitosis, leucopenia, linfocitopenia y trombocitopenia en un grupo de trabajadores expuestos a la mezcla de benceno-tolueno-xileno (BTX). Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal donde se incluyó a 97 trabajadores de una empresa de pinturas de México a los que se les realizó una biometría hemática convencional y les fue estimada la exposición a través de la dosis diaria potencial acumulada para vapores de BTX. Resultados. Del total de trabajadores, 19,6%, mostró macrocitosis, 18,6%, linfocitopenia, 10,3% hipocromía, 7,2% trombocitopenia y 5,2% leucopenia. La asociación cruda de macrocitosis con exposición a dosis alta de mezcla de BTX fue la única significativa (OR:3,6; IC95%: 1,08 - 13,9; p=0,02) y en la que se estructuró un modelo de regresión logística (OR:6,7; IC95%: 1,33 - 13,55; p:0,02) ajustada por edad, consumo de alcohol y tabaquismo. Conclusiones. Todos los componentes citohemáticos analizados mostraron cambios leves; que podrían estar asociados con la exposición a la mezcla de BTX. De ellos, la macrocitosis podría constituirse en una manifestación precoz que merece ser vigilada.

Objectives. Evaluate the three blood cell series and identify the presence of hypochromia, macrocytosis, leucopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia in a group of workers exposed to the mixture of benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX). Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study which included 97 workers from a paint factory in Mexico. The participants underwent conventional blood count and tests for potential cumulative daily dose of BTX fumes, to estimate exposure. Results. From the total of workers, 19.6% showed macrocytosis, 18.6%, lymphopenia, hypochromia 10.3%, 7.2% and 5.2% thrombocytopenia leukopenia. The crude association of macrocytosis with exposure to high doses of BTX mixture was the only with statistical significance (OR: 3.6, 95% CI 1.08 to 13.9, P = 0.02), and the base for a logistic regression model (OR: 6.7, 95% CI 1.33 to 13.55, P = 0.02) adjusted for age, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Conclusions. All blood cytological components analyzed demonstrated mild changes, potentially associated with exposure to the mixture of BTX. Macrocytosis could constitute an early manifestation worthy for surveillance.

Are Mexican agricultural farmlands PCDD/F soil reservoirs?

Our aim was to identify polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDFs) in agricultural farmland soils in the Northwest of Mexico. We obtained ≈50 g of soil in five Yaqui Valley (VY) agricultural fields in the north-western Mexican State of Sonora and in five Culiacán Valley (VC) agricultural fields in the north-western Mexican State of Sinaloa. Fields with minimal tillage, with ferti-irrigation, and those with intensive aerial and manual tillage were included. All soil samples were subjected to the chemical activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX(®)) test to determine PCDD/F. On average, samples contained 4.2 ± 1.2 PCDD/F ppt TEQ; VY soil samples contained 4.72 ± 1.23 PCDD/F ppt TEQ, while VC soil samples showed 3.6 ± 1.1 PCDD/F ppt TEQ (p = 0.47). On considering tillage-type, in agricultural fields catalogued as intensive tillage, PCDD/F concentrations were 4.40 ± 0.43 in agricultural fields catalogued as intensive tillage, while in farmlands of another tillage-type these concentrations were slightly higher (5.53 ± 0.8).

Type 2 diabetes in Mexican workers exposed to a potential source ofdioxins in the cement industry determined by a job exposure matrix / Diabetes tipo 2 en trabajadores Mexicanos expuestos a una fuente potencial de dioxinas en la industria del cemento determinado a través de una matriz de exposición ocupacional

Purpose: To identify association between type 2 diabetes (DM2) with occupational exposure to potential dioxins source in Mexican cement industry workers. Materials and Methods: 56 medical files of cement industry workers with diagnosis of DM2 were included; 56 medical files of workers from the same industry without DM2 were the controls. The daily dose of exposure (DDE) to the potential dioxins source per work years was estimated by a job exposure matrix and categorized as low, moderate, and high. Logistic regression model that correlated high exposure to potential source of dioxins (cement clinker confinement) per work years and presence of DM2 was adjusted by work seniority, patient age at which DM2 diagnosis was established and DM2 familiar background. Results: the OR for the presence of DM2 in workers with moderate and high exposure to potential source of dioxins in the cement industry was 3.25 (1.10–9.57), p= 0.03, adjusted by work seniority, workerage at which DM2 diagnosis was established, and DM2 familiar background.Conclusions: In according with the data explored in the medical files of cement industry workers,there is an association between high exposure to the industrial confinement of the cement clinker as apotential source of dioxins and presence of DM2 in a modest dose-response gradient (AU)

Propósito: Identificar asociación entre diabetes tipo 2 (DM2) en trabajadores Mexicanos con la exposición ocupacional a una fuente potencial de dioxinas de la industria cementera.Material y métodos: Se incluyeron 56 expedientes clínicos de trabajadores de la industria cementera con diagnóstico de DM2; los controles lo constituyeron 56 expedientes clínicos de trabajadores de la misma industria pero sin DM2. La dosis diaria de exposición (DDE) a la fuente potencial de dioxinas por años trabajados se estimó a través de una matriz de exposición ocupacional y fue categorizada como baja,moderada y alta. El modelo de regresión logística que correlacionó la alta exposición a la fuente potencial de dioxinas (confinamiento de la escoria o clinker de cemento) por años trabajados y presencia de DM2 fue ajustada por antigüedad en el trabajo, la edad del paciente en la que se estableció el diagnóstico de DM2 y antecedente familiar de DM2.Resultados: la razón de momios para la presencia de DM2 en trabajadores con exposición moderada y alta a la fuente potencial de dioxinas en la industria cementera fue de 3.25 (1.10–9.57), p= 0.03, ajustada por antigüedad en el trabajo, edad del trabajador en la que se estableció el diagnóstico de DM2, y el antecedente familiar de DM2.Conclusiones: De acuerdo con los datos explorados en los expedientes clínicos de trabajadores de la industria cementera, existe asociación entre la alta exposición al confinamiento industrial de la escoria oclinker de cemento, como fuente potencial a dioxinas, y la presencia de DM2 con un modesto gradiente de dosis-respuesta (AU)