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Hu M, Yang M, Tang H, Zhang C. The association between exposure to volatile organic chemicals and serum α-Klotho in USA middle to old aged population: A cross-sectional study from NHANES 2011-2016. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173083. [PMID: 38761942 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) constitute an omnipresent category of environmental contaminants. Numerous studies have identified associations between various VOCs and human diseases. The anti-aging protein α-Klotho has been shown to exert protective influences across a variety of disease origins and progressions. This study aims to explore the relationship between serum α-Klotho levels and exposure to VOCs in humans. METHODS This analysis utilized data from 1672 participants aged from 40 to 79 years in 2011-2016 NHANES. Exposure to VOCs was assessed through measurements of urinary VOC metabolites (mVOCs), with 16 mVOCs selected for analysis. Multivariate generalized linear models (GLM), restricted cubic splines (RCS), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were employed to examine the connection between serum α-Klotho and individual mVOCs and mVOCs mixtures, as well as to identify the primary monomeric mVOCs responsible for these associations. RESULTS Our research revealed that 8 mVOCs exhibited inverse associations with serum α-Klotho levels in GLM and RCS models. Particularly noteworthy, N-Acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-L-cysteine (CYMA), a metabolite of acrylonitrile, emerged as the most influential mVOC in both WQS and BKMR models. Furthermore, the mVOCs mixture was found to be negatively correlated with serum α-Klotho. The detrimental effects of mVOCs on serum α-Klotho were observed to significantly diminish in individuals with elevated serum vitamin D levels. CONCLUSION Our study highlights a significant inverse relationship between serum α-Klotho and the mixture of mVOCs, indicating that exposure to VOCs may impact the molecular pathways of aging and related diseases by influencing α-Klotho concentrations. Remarkably, the attenuation of this association by high serum vitamin D levels implies potential therapeutic strategies. Our study underscores the importance of minimizing VOCs exposure to mitigate the adverse effects on α-Klotho. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingcun Hu
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China
| | - Min Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China
| | - Hui Tang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China.
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Ma M, Zhu X, Li F, Guan G, Hui R, Zhu L, Pang H, Zhang Y. Associations of urinary volatile organic compounds with cardiovascular disease among the general adult population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38523395 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2331732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
This study was to estimate the associations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposure with the prevalence of total and specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the general adult population. This cross-sectional study analyzed 15 urinary VOC metabolites in the general population using the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 5,213). The weighted study population with 47.0 years median age, was primarily female (51.2%). The prevalence of total CVD in the overall population was 7.9%. The single-exposure analyzes of AAMA, ATCA, CEMA, CYMA, DHBMA, 3HPMA, and 3MHA +4MHA were significantly associated with increased prevalence of total CVD. Qgcomp regression consistently showed that urinary VOCs-mixed exposure was positively correlated with the prevalence of total and specific CVDs (chronic heart failure, angina, and stroke), and highlighted each VOCs metabolite weights and direction. The similar results were observed for the WQS regression using mixed analysis methods. In conclusion, exposure to VOCs increases CVD prevalence and advances the identification of risk factors for CVD for environmental study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijuan Ma
- Department of Cadre Physical Examination Center, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xu Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feipeng Li
- Department of Cardiology, Huayin People's Hospital, Weinan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Gongchang Guan
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rutai Hui
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Pang
- Department of Cardiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Tang L, Liu M, Tian J. Volatile organic compounds exposure associated with depression among U.S. adults: Results from NHANES 2011-2020. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140690. [PMID: 37995973 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important contributors to air pollution. VOCs exposure was associated with various human diseases. Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders and poses a serious mental health burden. Although VOCs are neurotoxic and can damage the central nervous system, the association between VOCs exposure and depression remains obscure. Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we included 5676 adult individuals and 15 major components of urinary volatile organic compound metabolites (mVOCs). We comprehensively evaluated the potential association between each single urinary mVOC exposure and depressive symptoms using binary logistic and restricted cubic spline regression, whereas the weighted quantile sum regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model were used to explore the mixture co-exposure association. The results indicated significantly higher mean concentrations of the 11 urinary mVOC components in the depression group than that in the non-depression group. And 12 mVOC components had a significantly positive association with depression. The overall effect of all 15 mVOCs components was also significantly positive. The corresponding odds ratio was 1.56 (95%CI: 1.2-2.03) in the categorical variable model and the regression coefficient was 0.36 (95%CI: 0.12-0.6) in the numerical variable model. Five urinary mVOCs (URXCYM, URXPHG, URX34 M, URXMB3, and URXAMC) were identified as the most relevant components associated with depression, with 89.06% total weights in the categorical variable model and 89.39% in the numerical variable model. The mVOCs were the biomarkers of VOCs, their concentrations in urine could specifically represent the contents of their metabolic parents in the human body. Considering that the metabolic parents of the above five mVOCs were predominantly acrylonitrile, toluene, styrene, acrylamide, 1,3-Butadiene, and xylenes, our results further indicated that exposure to these VOCs was closely related to depression, and more attention should be paid to the mental health risks of VOCs exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Tang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Min Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China; Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Jing Tian
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
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Martínez-Martínez M, Martínez-Martínez M, Soria-Guerra R, Gamiño-Gutiérrez S, Senés-Guerrero C, Santacruz A, Flores-Ramírez R, Salazar-Martínez A, Portales-Pérez D, Bach H, Martínez-Gutiérrez F. Influence of feeding practices in the composition and functionality of infant gut microbiota and its relationship with health. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0294494. [PMID: 38170702 PMCID: PMC10763948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Establishing the infant's gut microbiota has long-term implications on health and immunity. Breastfeeding is recognized as the best practice of infant nutrition in comparison with formula feeding. We evaluated the effects of the primary feeding practices by analyzing the infant growth and the potential association with gut diseases. A cross-sectional and observational study was designed. This study included 55 mothers with infants, who were divided according to their feeding practices in breastfeeding (BF), formula feeding (FF), and combined breast and formula feeding (CF). Anthropometric measurements of the participants were recorded. Additionally, non-invasive fecal samples from the infants were collected to analyze the microbiota by sequencing, immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration (ELISA), and volatile organic compounds (gas chromatography with an electronic nose). Results showed that the microbiota diversity in the BF group was the highest compared to the other two groups. The IgA levels in the BF group were twice as high as those in the FF group. Moreover, the child´s growth in the BF group showed the best infant development when the data were compared at birth to the recollection time, as noted by the correlation with a decreased concentration of toxic volatile organic compounds. Interestingly, the CF group showed a significant difference in health status when the data were compared with the FF group. We conclude that early health practices influence children's growth, which is relevant to further research about how those infants' health evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ruth Soria-Guerra
- Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico
| | | | | | - Arlette Santacruz
- Posgrado en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Rogelio Flores-Ramírez
- Laboratorio de Salud Total, Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud -CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico
| | | | - Diana Portales-Pérez
- Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Torreón, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico
| | - Horacio Bach
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Fidel Martínez-Gutiérrez
- Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico
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Ramírez DM, Gutenkunst S, Lothrop N, Quijada C, Chaires M, Cortez I, Sandoval F, Camargo FJ, Gallardo EV, Torabzadeh E, Wagoner R, Lopez-Galvez N, Ingram M, Billheimer D, Wolf AM, Beamer PI. What a mix! Volatile organic compounds and worker exposure in small business beauty salons in Tucson, Arizona. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1300291. [PMID: 38164445 PMCID: PMC10757921 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1300291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Small business beauty salons have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their workplace air. VOCs are present as ingredients in beauty or hair products. They may also form because of chemical reactions, where thermal-styling elements accelerate the volatilization of these compounds. Uncertainties remain about the relationship between air pollutant concentrations and the variety of beauty salon activities in a work shift. Investigating these associations can help determine high-risk services, associated products, and at-risk workers. Methods In this exploratory study, female community health workers recruited beauty salons from target zip codes in predominately Latino neighborhoods, including primarily Spanish-speaking small businesses. We collected salon chemical inventories, business characteristics, and participant activity logs to understand how chemicals and activities influence the total and specific VOC concentrations. We sampled personal total VOCs and specific VOCs from the same shop during the participant work shift. We also measured personal total VOCs for four work shifts per shop. Results A linear mixed effects model of log VOCs on the fixed effect of activity and the random effects of salon and shift within the salon showed that the variance between salons explains over half (55%) of the total variance and is 4.1 times bigger than for shifts within salons. Summa canisters detected 31 specific VOCs, and hazard scores ranged between 0 and 4.3. 2-Propanol (isopropyl alcohol) was the only VOC detected in all shifts of all salons. Discussion In this study, differences in VOC measurements were primarily between salons. These differences may result from differences in ventilation, services rendered, and product lines applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Moreno Ramírez
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | | | - Nathan Lothrop
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Carolina Quijada
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Marvin Chaires
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Imelda Cortez
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Flor Sandoval
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Fernanda J. Camargo
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Emma V. Gallardo
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Elmira Torabzadeh
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rietta Wagoner
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Nicolas Lopez-Galvez
- College of Health and Human Services School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Maia Ingram
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Dean Billheimer
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Ann Marie Wolf
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Paloma I. Beamer
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Janjani H, Yunesian M, Yaghmaeian K, Aghaei M, Yousefian F, Alizadeh B, Fazlzadeh M. BTEX in indoor air of barbershops and beauty salons: Characterization, source apportionment and health risk assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 345:140518. [PMID: 37890789 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Volatile organic compounds, mainly BTEX, are among the pollutants of concern in beauty salons and barbershops that threaten both staff personnel and clients' health. This study aimed to determine the concentration of BTEX in barbershops and beauty salons and assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks based on the actual risk coefficients. Also, possible sources of BTEX were determined. METHOD Samples were collected by passive sampling. Quantitative and qualitative measurements of BTEX compounds were performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MASS). Subsequently, the health risks were assessed according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. SPSS24 software and positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis were used for statistical analysis and source apportionment respectively. RESULTS Toluene is the most abundant compound in beauty salons, with a maximum concentration of 219.4 (μg/m3) in beauty salons. Results indicated that the mean ELCR value estimated for benzene regarding female staff exposure (1.04 × 10-5) was higher than that for men (4.05 × 10-6). Also, ELCR values of ethylbenzene for staff exposure were 2.08 × 10-6 and 3.8 × 10-6 for men and women, respectively, and possess possible carcinogenesis risks. CONCLUSION Use of solvents and cosmetic products, improper heating systems, and type of service are the sources that probably contribute to BTEX emissions in beauty salons. It is necessary to follow health guidelines and conduct continuous monitoring for their implementation, in addition to setting a mandated occupational regulation framework or air quality requirements, to improve the health conditions in beauty salons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosna Janjani
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Masud Yunesian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kamyar Yaghmaeian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Aghaei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Yousefian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Bahram Alizadeh
- Students Research Committee, School of Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mehdi Fazlzadeh
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran; Lung Diseases Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
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Lothrop N, Sandoval F, Cortez I, Wagoner R, Lopez-Galvez N, Parra K, Wolf AM, Wertheim BC, Quijada C, Lee A, Griffin S, Bell M, Carvajal S, Ingram M, Beamer P. Studying full-shift inhalation exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among Latino workers in very small-sized beauty salons and auto repair shops. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1300677. [PMID: 38106905 PMCID: PMC10722412 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1300677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background One in every 200 US jobs is in a beauty salon or auto repair shop, where workers are regularly exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may cause a range of short- and long-term health issues. In these shops, Latino workers are overrepresented and lack culturally and linguistically appropriate industrial hygiene resources. This leaves a gap in knowledge on inhalation exposures to VOCs in this hard-to-reach and ubiquitous worker population. Objective Our goal was to recruit hard-to-reach, predominantly Spanish-speaking workers in beauty salons and auto repair shops and monitor total VOC inhalation exposures for over entire work shifts, with minimal impact on workers, clients, and business. Methods We developed and refined measurement and exposure assessment methods for personal and area full-shift VOC inhalation exposures. Results With minimal participant loss, we measured over 500 h of real-time, personal VOC exposures and recorded activities and other exposure factors for 47 participants, while also documenting chemical inventories and quantifying indoor area concentrations of specific VOCs among 10 auto repair shops and 10 beauty salons. Conclusion Lessons learned from our study can assist future studies of inhalation exposures in other hard-to-reach occupational populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Lothrop
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Flor Sandoval
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Imelda Cortez
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rietta Wagoner
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Nicolas Lopez-Galvez
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Kimberly Parra
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Ann Marie Wolf
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Betsy C. Wertheim
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Carolina Quijada
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Amanda Lee
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Stephanie Griffin
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Melanie Bell
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Scott Carvajal
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Maia Ingram
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Paloma Beamer
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Lê AB, Huỳnh TB. The need for a multi-level approach to occupational safety and health among Asian and Asian American beauty service workers. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2023; 20:495-505. [PMID: 37540163 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2245447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Asian and Asian Americans (A/AA) are a group overlooked in general health outcomes but especially occupational safety and health outcomes. In the United States, the beauty service microbusiness industry (e.g., nail salons) predominantly employs immigrant Asian women who regularly encounter a plethora of occupational hazards (e.g., harmful chemical exposures -toluene, formaldehyde, bloodborne pathogens, fungi. However, due to the precariousness of beauty service jobs, cultural and linguistic barriers, and social determinants of health, A/AA beauty service workers face complex occupational safety and health challenges that require interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural competency to address. This commentary will discuss a multi-level approach including specific outreach partners that will offer the required diverse skillsets necessary for improving the occupational safety and health for this worker population in this microbusiness industry. Implications and suggestions for interventions and policy changes are also recommended utilizing the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities' Research Framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora B Lê
- Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Trân B Huỳnh
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Bowman BA, Lewis EV, Goldy DW, Kim JY, Elio DM, Blount BC, Bhandari D. Assessment of urinary 6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadienyl mercapturic acid as a novel biomarker of benzene exposure. J Anal Toxicol 2023; 47:597-605. [PMID: 37632692 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkad056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Assessing benzene exposure is a public health priority due to its deleterious health effects and ubiquitous industrial and environmental sources of exposure. Phenyl mercapturic acid (PhMA) is a commonly used urinary biomarker to assess benzene exposure. However, recent work has identified significant interlaboratory variation in urinary PhMA concentrations related to methodological differences. In this study, we present urinary 6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadienyl mercapturic acid (pre-PhMA), a metabolite that undergoes acid-catalyzed dehydration to form PhMA, as a novel and specific urinary biomarker for assessing benzene exposure. We developed and validated the first quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for measuring urinary concentrations of pre-PhMA. The pH effect on the method of ruggedness testing determined that pre-PhMA is stable across the normal human urine pH range and that neutral conditions must be maintained throughout quantification for robust and accurate measurement of urinary pre-PhMA concentrations. The method exhibited below 2 ng/mL sensitivity for pre-PhMA, linearity over three orders of magnitude, and precision and accuracy within 10%. Urinary pre-PhMA concentrations were assessed in 369 human urine samples. Smoking individuals exhibited elevated levels of pre-PhMA compared to non-smoking individuals. Furthermore, the relationship between benzene exposure and urinary pre-PhMA levels was explored by examining the correlation of pre-PhMA with 2-cyanoethyl mercapturic acid, a smoke exposure biomarker. The urinary biomarkers exhibited a positive correlation (r = 0.720), indicating that pre-PhMA levels increased with benzene exposure. The results of this study demonstrate that urinary pre-PhMA is a rugged and effective novel biomarker of benzene exposure that can be widely implemented for future biomonitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett A Bowman
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Erica V Lewis
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Devon W Goldy
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Jenny Y Kim
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Deanna M Elio
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Benjamin C Blount
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Deepak Bhandari
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
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Newmeyer MN, Quirós-Alcalá L, Kavi LK, Louis LM, Prasse C. Implementing a suspect screening method to assess occupational chemical exposures among US-based hairdressers serving an ethnically diverse clientele: a pilot study. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:566-574. [PMID: 36693958 PMCID: PMC10363568 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are over 700,000 hairdressers in the United States, and it is estimated that >90% are female and 31% are Black or Hispanic/Latina. Racial and ethnic minorities in this workforce may be exposed to a unique mixture of potentially hazardous chemicals from products used and services provided. However, previous biomonitoring studies of hairdressers target a narrow list of compounds and few studies have investigated exposures among minority hairdressers. OBJECTIVE To assess occupational chemical exposures in a sample of US-based Black and Latina hairdressers serving an ethnically diverse clientele by analyzing urine specimens with a suspect screening method. METHODS Post-shift urine samples were collected from a sample of US female hairdressers (n = 23) and office workers (n = 17) and analyzed via reverse-phase liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Detected compounds were filtered based on peak area differences between groups and matching with a suspect screening list. When possible, compound identities were confirmed with reference standards. Possible exposure sources were evaluated for detected compounds. RESULTS The developed workflow allowed for the detection of 24 compounds with median peak areas ≥2x greater among hairdressers compared to office workers. Product use categories (PUCs) and harmonized functional uses were searched for these compounds, including confirmed compounds methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and 2-naphthol. Most product use categories were associated with "personal use" and included 11 different "hair styling and care" product types (e.g., hair conditioner, hair relaxer). Functional uses for compounds without associated PUCs included fragrance, hair and skin conditioning, hair dyeing, and UV stabilizer. SIGNIFICANCE Our suspect screening approach detected several compounds not previously reported in biomonitoring studies of hairdressers. These results will help guide future studies to improve characterization of occupational chemical exposures in this workforce and inform exposure and risk mitigation strategies to reduce potential associated work-related health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N Newmeyer
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Lucy K Kavi
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Lydia M Louis
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Carsten Prasse
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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11
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Gao M, Liu W, An X, Nie L, Du Z, Chen P, Liu X. Emission factors and emission inventory of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from hair products application in hair salons in Beijing through measurement. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:162996. [PMID: 36963673 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Hair products application in hair salons is a potential VOCs emission source. 139 representative hair salons were investigated and 88 hair products were sampled to establish VOC emission factors and emission inventory. VOC emission factors were 6.75 g/kg for shampoo, 43.55 g/kg for hair mask, 27.62 g/kg for hair oil, 52.44 g/kg for hair dye, 32.01 g/kg for perm cream, 54.08 g/kg for elastin, 156.40 g/kg for hair styling gel, 78.88 g/kg for hair clay, 70.25 g/kg for hair wax, and 447.88 g/kg for hair styling spray. VOC emissions from hair products application in hair salons in Beijing had increased from 362.77 t in 2011 to 393.40 t in 2020. Hair styling spray, hair dye, perm cream and hair mask were the four largest contributors to total emissions, together accounting for 93.68 %. The high VOC emissions and emission intensity mainly located in six central urban districts. The per capita VOC emissions were 0.018 kg VOCs/person/year in 2020. Projection indicates it can reduce VOC emissions by 9.72 % by 2030 compared with that in 2020 if the VOC content limit standard of hair products will be implemented, otherwise, VOC emissions keep raising, urgently needing VOC control measures in hair products application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiping Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Control and Application, National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
| | - Wenwen Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Control and Application, National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China.
| | - Xiaoshuan An
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Control and Application, National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Lei Nie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Control and Application, National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Zhenxia Du
- College of chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Panjin Chen
- College of chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Control and Application, National Engineering Research Center of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing 100037, China
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12
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Wahlang B, Gao H, Rai SN, Keith RJ, McClain CJ, Srivastava S, Cave MC, Bhatnagar A. Associations between residential volatile organic compound exposures and liver injury markers: The role of biological sex and race. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 221:115228. [PMID: 36610539 PMCID: PMC9957966 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
While occupational exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been linked to steatohepatitis and liver cancer in industrial workers, recent findings have also positively correlated low-dose, residential VOC exposures with liver injury markers. VOC sources are numerous; factors including biological make up (sex), socio-cultural constructs (gender, race) and lifestyle (smoking) can influence both VOC exposure levels and disease outcomes. Therefore, the current study's objective is to investigate how sex and race influence associations between residential VOC exposures and liver injury markers particularly in smokers vs. nonsmokers. Subjects (n = 663) were recruited from residential neighborhoods; informed consent was obtained. Exposure biomarkers included 16 urinary VOC metabolites. Serological disease biomarkers included liver enzymes, direct bilirubin, and hepatocyte death markers (cytokeratin K18). Pearson correlations and generalized linear models were conducted. Models were adjusted for common liver-related confounders and interaction terms. The study population constituted approximately 60% females (n = 401) and 40% males (n = 262), and a higher percent of males were smokers and/or frequent drinkers. Both sexes had a higher percent of White (75% females, 82% males) vs. Black individuals. Positive associations were identified for metabolites of acrolein, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, butadiene, crotonaldehyde, and styrene with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a biomarker for cholestatic injury; and for the benzene metabolite with bilirubin; only in females. These associations were retained in female smokers. Similar associations were also observed between these metabolites and ALP only in White individuals (n = 514). In Black individuals (n = 114), the styrene metabolite was positively associated with aspartate transaminase. Interaction models indicated that positive associations for acrylamide/crotonaldehyde metabolites with ALP in females were dose-dependent. Most VOC associations with K18 markers were negative in this residential population. Overall, the findings demonstrated that biological sex, race, and smoking status influence VOC effects on liver injury and underscored the role of biological-social-lifestyle factor(s) interactions when addressing air pollution-related health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banrida Wahlang
- Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Hong Gao
- Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Shesh N Rai
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA; Cancer Data Science Center, Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Rachel J Keith
- Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Craig J McClain
- Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Sanjay Srivastava
- Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Mathew C Cave
- Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Aruni Bhatnagar
- Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; The Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
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13
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Dalton KR, Louis LM, Fandiño-Del-Rio M, Rule AM, Pool W, Randolph K, Thomas S, Davis MF, Quirós-Alcalá L. Microbiome alterations from volatile organic compounds (VOC) exposures among workers in salons primarily serving women of color. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:114125. [PMID: 35987373 PMCID: PMC11316258 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Salon workers, especially those serving an ethnically and racially diverse clientele (i.e., Black/Latina), may experience disparately high levels of workplace exposures to respiratory irritants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Salon workers are also reported to have a greater risk of developing respiratory conditions compared to the general population. Emerging evidence suggests that occupational chemical exposures may alter the human microbiome and that these alterations may be an important mechanism by which workplace VOC exposures adversely impact respiratory health. This preliminary research investigated the potential effects of 28 VOC urinary biomarkers on the 16S rRNA nasal microbiome in 40 workers from salons primarily serving women of color (Black and Dominican salons) compared to office workers. Our exploratory analysis revealed significant differences in microbial composition by worker group; namely dissimilar levels of Staphylococcus species (S. epidermidis and S. aureus, specifically) in salon workers compared to office workers, and higher alpha diversity levels in workers in Dominican salons compared to workers in Black salons. Within-sample alpha diversity levels tended to be decreased with higher VOC urinary biomarker concentrations, significantly for carbon disulfide, acrolein, acrylonitrile, crotonaldehyde, and vinyl chloride biomarkers. Our research highlights that occupational exposures, particularly to chemicals like VOCs, can impact the respiratory microbiome in the vulnerable salon worker group. Further understanding of the potential effects of chemical mixtures on microbial composition may provide key insights to respiratory health and other adverse health outcomes, as well as direct prevention efforts in this largely historically understudied occupational population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R Dalton
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lydia M Louis
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Magdalena Fandiño-Del-Rio
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen Thomas
- University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Meghan F Davis
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
| | - Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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14
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Chen WQ, Zhang XY. 1,3-Butadiene: a ubiquitous environmental mutagen and its associations with diseases. Genes Environ 2022; 44:3. [PMID: 35012685 PMCID: PMC8744311 DOI: 10.1186/s41021-021-00233-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a petrochemical manufactured in high volumes. It is a human carcinogen and can induce lymphohematopoietic cancers, particularly leukemia, in occupationally-exposed workers. BD is an air pollutant with the major environmental sources being automobile exhaust and tobacco smoke. It is one of the major constituents and is considered the most carcinogenic compound in cigarette smoke. The BD concentrations in urban areas usually vary between 0.01 and 3.3 μg/m3 but can be significantly higher in some microenvironments. For BD exposure of the general population, microenvironments, particularly indoor microenvironments, are the primary determinant and environmental tobacco smoke is the main contributor. BD has high cancer risk and has been ranked the second or the third in the environmental pollutants monitored in most urban areas, with the cancer risks exceeding 10-5. Mutagenicity/carcinogenicity of BD is mediated by its genotoxic metabolites but the specific metabolite(s) responsible for the effects in humans have not been determined. BD can be bioactivated to yield three mutagenic epoxide metabolites by cytochrome P450 enzymes, or potentially be biotransformed into a mutagenic chlorohydrin by myeloperoxidase, a peroxidase almost specifically present in neutrophils and monocytes. Several urinary BD biomarkers have been developed, among which N-acetyl-S-(4-hydroxy-2-buten-1-yl)-L-cysteine is the most sensitive and is suitable for biomonitoring BD exposure in the general population. Exposure to BD has been associated with leukemia, cardiovascular disease, and possibly reproductive effects, and may be associated with several cancers, autism, and asthma in children. Collectively, BD is a ubiquitous pollutant that has been associated with a range of adverse health effects and diseases with children being a subpopulation with potentially greater susceptibility. Its adverse effects on human health may have been underestimated and more studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Qi Chen
- School of Public Health, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xin-Yu Zhang
- School of Public Health, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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15
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Presumed Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and Experienced Health Impacts among Warehouse Workers at Logistics Companies: A Cross-Sectional Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18137052. [PMID: 34280987 PMCID: PMC8296867 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
During intercontinental shipping, freight containers and other closed transport devices are applied. These closed spaces can be polluted with various harmful chemicals that may accumulate in poorly ventilated environments. The major pollutants are residues of pesticides used for fumigation as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the goods. While handling cargos at logistics companies, workers can be exposed to these pollutants, frequently without adequate occupational health and safety precautions. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among potentially exposed warehouse workers and office workers as controls at Hungarian logistics companies (1) to investigate the health effects of chemical pollutants occurring in closed spaces of transportation and storage and (2) to collect information about the knowledge of and attitude toward workplace chemical exposures as well as the occupational health and safety precautions applied. Pre-existing medical conditions did not show any significant difference between the working groups. Numbness or heaviness in the arms and legs (AOR = 3.99; 95% CI = 1.72–9.26) and dry cough (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.09–4.93) were significantly associated with working in closed environments of transportation and storage, while forgetfulness (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.18–0.87), sleep disturbances (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17–0.78), and tiredness after waking up (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20–0.79) were significantly associated with employment in office. Warehouse workers who completed specific workplace health and safety training had more detailed knowledge related to this workplace chemical issue (AOR = 8.18; 95% CI = 3.47–19.27), and they were significantly more likely to use certain preventive measures. Warehouse workers involved in handling cargos at logistics companies may be exposed to different chemical pollutants, and the related health risks remain unknown if the presence of these chemicals is not recognized. Applied occupational health and safety measures at logistics companies are not adequate enough to manage this chemical safety issue, which warrants awareness raising and the introduction of effective preventive strategies to protect workers’ health at logistics companies.
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