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Elkama A, Şentürk K, Karahalil B. Assessment of genotoxicity biomarkers in gasoline station attendants due to occupational exposure. Toxicol Ind Health 2024; 40:337-351. [PMID: 38597775 DOI: 10.1177/07482337241247089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Gasoline station attendants are exposed to numerous chemicals that might have genotoxic and carcinogenic potential, such as benzene in fuel vapor and particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vehicle exhaust emission. According to IARC, benzene and diesel particulates are Group 1 human carcinogens, and gasoline has been classified as Group 2A "possibly carcinogenic to humans." At gas stations, self-service is not implemented in Turkey; fuel-filling service is provided entirely by employees, and therefore they are exposed to those chemicals in the workplace during all working hours. Genetic monitoring of workers with occupational exposure to possible genotoxic agents allows early detection of cancer. We aimed to investigate the genotoxic damage due to exposures in gasoline station attendants in Turkey. Genotoxicity was evaluated by the Comet, chromosomal aberration, and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Gasoline station attendants (n = 53) had higher tail length, tail intensity, and tail moment values than controls (n = 61). In gasoline station attendants (n = 46), the frequencies of chromatid gaps, chromosome gaps, and total aberrations were higher compared with controls (n = 59). Increased frequencies of micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges were determined in gasoline station attendants (n = 47) compared with controls (n = 40). Factors such as age, duration of working, and smoking did not have any significant impact on genotoxic endpoints. Only exposure increased genotoxic damage in gasoline station attendants independently from demographic and clinical characteristics. Occupational exposure-related genotoxicity risk may increase in gasoline station attendants who are chronically exposed to gasoline and various chemicals in vehicle exhaust emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aylin Elkama
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kerem Şentürk
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
| | - Bensu Karahalil
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Turkey
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Polyong CP, Thetkathuek A. Comparison of acetylcholinesterase among employees based on job positions and personal protective equipment in fuel station. Environ Anal Health Toxicol 2023; 38:e2023018-0. [PMID: 37853699 PMCID: PMC10613560 DOI: 10.5620/eaht.2023018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) among employees based on job positions and the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) in fuel station areas. The sample group consisted of 200 people sorted into various groups, including (i) Inside fuel dispenser area (I-FDA) group consisting of 100 employees for refueling, cashier, and loading fuel into storage tanks, and (ii) Outside fuel dispenser area (O-FDA) group, consisting of 100 employees working in convenience stores, food stores, coffee shops, and offices, as well as general staff and car washers. Data were collected using interview questionnaires and blood samples were analyzed for AChE activity. The results showed that the I-FDA group had a significantly lower mean of serum AChE (7.38±1.73 U/ml) than the O-FDA group (7.85±1.49 U/ml) (p<0.05). The I-FDA group had a 2.43 times higher risk of abnormal serum AChE than the O-FDA group (OR=2.43, 95%CI=1.05-5.60). When considering the risk factors for job positions, it was found that refueling and cashier positions had lower AChE activity levels than those who did not (p<0.05). In the part, employees for food sales in a closed building and those wearing PPE masks had significantly higher AChE activity levels than those who did not or who wore them (p<0.05). Based on the aforementioned, employers at fuel stations should strictly determine the appropriate measures for wearing a PPE mask. Further, employees should be provided accommodation away from oil supply or enclosed buildings during breaks to reduce the effects on the neurotransmitter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Pattama Polyong
- Occupational Health and Safety Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
| | - Anamai Thetkathuek
- Department of Industrial Hygiene and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Chonburi Province 20131, Thailand
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Malavolti M, Malagoli C, Filippini T, Wise LA, Bellelli A, Palazzi G, Cellini M, Costanzini S, Teggi S, Vinceti M. Residential proximity to petrol stations and risk of childhood leukemia. Eur J Epidemiol 2023:10.1007/s10654-023-01009-0. [PMID: 37249787 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-023-01009-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Petrol stations emit benzene and other contaminants that have been associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia. We carried out a population-based case-control study in two provinces in Northern Italy. We enrolled 182 cases of childhood leukemia diagnosed during 1998-2019 and 726 age- and sex-matched population controls. We geocoded the addresses of child residences and 790 petrol stations located in the study area. We estimated leukemia risk according to distance from petrol stations within a 1000 m buffer and amount of supplied fuel within a buffer of 250 m from the child's residence. We used conditional logistic regression models to approximate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of interest, adjusted for potential confounders. We also modeled non-linear associations using restricted cubic splines. In secondary analyses, we restricted to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases and stratifed by age (<5 and ≥5 years). Compared with children who lived≥1000 m from a petrol station, the RR was 2.2 (95% CI 0.5-9.4) for children living<50 m from nearest petrol station. Associations were stronger for the ALL subtype (RR=2.9, 95% CI 0.6-13.4) and among older children (age≥5 years: RR=4.4, 95% CI 0.6-34.1; age<5 years: RR=1.6, 95% CI 0.1-19.4). Risk of leukemia was also greater (RR=1.6, 95% CI 0.7-3.3) among the most exposed participants when assigning exposure categories based on petrol stations located within 250 m of the child's residence and total amount of gasoline delivered by the stations. Overall, residence within close proximity to a petrol station, especially one with more intense refueling activity, was associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia, though associations were imprecise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Malavolti
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Carlotta Malagoli
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Filippini
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lauren A Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alessio Bellelli
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Palazzi
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mothers, Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Monica Cellini
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mothers, Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sofia Costanzini
- Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sergio Teggi
- Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marco Vinceti
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giuseppe Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
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Giardini I, da Poça KS, da Silva PVB, Andrade Silva VJC, Cintra DS, Friedrich K, Geraldino BR, Otero UB, Sarpa M. Hematological Changes in Gas Station Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20105896. [PMID: 37239622 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Benzene, toluene, and xylene isomers (BTX) are present in gasoline. Exposure to benzene may lead to the appearance of a series of signs, symptoms, and complications, which are characterized by benzene poisoning, which is an occupational disease. This study evaluated the presence of signs and symptoms related to occupational exposure and whether occupational exposure to BTX is associated with the development of hematological changes. (2) Material and Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study included 542 participants, in which 324 were gas station workers (GSWs) and 218 were office workers (OWs) with no occupational exposure to benzene. To characterize the type of exposure (exposed and not exposed), trans,trans-Muconic acid (tt-MA), Hippuric acid (HA), and Methylhippuric acid (MHA) were used as exposure biomarkers. The tt-MA analysis revealed that the GSWs had 0.29 mg/g of urinary creatinine and the OWs had 0.13 mg/g of urinary creatinine. For HA, the GSWs presented 0.49 g/g of creatinine while the OWs presented 0.07. MHA analysis revealed that the GSWs had 1.57 g/g creatinine and the OWs had 0.01 g/g creatinine. Occupation habits and clinical symptoms were collected by questionnaire and blood samples were analyzed for hematological parameters. The persistence of hematological changes was evaluated with three serial blood collections every 15 days followed by laboratory hematological analysis. A descriptive analysis by the Chi-square test method was performed to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to fuels and the occurrence of changes in hematological parameters. (3) Results: In the GSWs, the most described signs and symptoms were somnolence (45.1%), headache (38.3%), dizziness (27.5%), tingling (25.4%), and involuntary movement (25%). Twenty GSWs that presented hematological alterations performed serial collections fifteen days apart. In addition, these workers presented total leukocyte counts above the upper limit and lymphocyte counts close to the lower limit. Leukocytosis and lymphopenia are hematological alterations present in chronic benzene poisoning. (4) Conclusions: The results found an initial change in different hematological parameters routinely used in clinics to evaluate health conditions. These findings reveal the importance of valuing clinical changes, even in the absence of disease, during the health monitoring of gas station workers and other groups that share the same space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Giardini
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
| | - Katia Soares da Poça
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis, Department of Biochemistry, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)-Rua Frei Caneca, 94/4º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20211-010, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Vieira Baptista da Silva
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
| | - Valnice Jane Caetano Andrade Silva
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
| | - Deborah Santos Cintra
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
| | - Karen Friedrich
- Centro de Estudos de Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana (CESTEH), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480-Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21041-210, RJ, Brazil
- Department of Collective Health Biochemistry, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)-Rua Frei Caneca, 94-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20211-010, RJ, Brazil
| | - Barbara Rodrigues Geraldino
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis, Department of Biochemistry, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)-Rua Frei Caneca, 94/4º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20211-010, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ubirani Barros Otero
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcia Sarpa
- Technical Area of Environment, Work and Cancer, National Cancer Institute-INCA, Rua Marquês do Pombal, 125/5º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20230-240, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis, Department of Biochemistry, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)-Rua Frei Caneca, 94/4º andar-Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20211-010, RJ, Brazil
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Disentangling the Complexity of Nutrition, Frailty and Gut Microbial Pathways during Aging: A Focus on Hippuric Acid. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15051138. [PMID: 36904138 PMCID: PMC10005077 DOI: 10.3390/nu15051138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippuric acid (HA) is a metabolite resulting from the hepatic glycine conjugation of benzoic acid (BA) or from the gut bacterial metabolism of phenylalanine. BA is generally produced by gut microbial metabolic pathways after the ingestion of foods of vegetal origin rich in polyphenolic compounds, namely, chlorogenic acids or epicatechins. It can also be present in foods, either naturally or artificially added as a preservative. The plasma and urine HA levels have been used in nutritional research for estimating the habitual fruit and vegetable intake, especially in children and in patients with metabolic diseases. HA has also been proposed as a biomarker of aging, since its levels in the plasma and urine can be influenced by the presence of several age-related conditions, including frailty, sarcopenia and cognitive impairment. Subjects with physical frailty generally exhibit reduced plasma and urine levels of HA, despite the fact that HA excretion tends to increase with aging. Conversely, subjects with chronic kidney disease exhibit reduced HA clearance, with HA retention that may exert toxic effects on the circulation, brain and kidneys. With regard to older patients with frailty and multimorbidity, interpreting the HA levels in the plasma and urine may result particularly challenging because HA is at the crossroads between diet, gut microbiota, liver and kidney function. Although these considerations may not make HA the ideal biomarker of aging trajectories, the study of its metabolism and clearance in older subjects may provide valuable information for disentangling the complex interaction between diet, gut microbiota, frailty and multimorbidity.
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Exposure assessment of wastewater treatment plant employees to BTEX: a biological monitoring approach. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21433. [PMID: 36509850 PMCID: PMC9744860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25876-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To monitor employees' work safety and exposure against air contaminants, Trans, trans-muconic acid, Hippuric acid, Methyl hippuric acid, Mandelic acid and Phenylglyoxylic acid can be used as reliable biomarkers of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds. This study aims to determine the level of urinary metabolites of BTEX compounds using biological monitoring in the employees of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the south of Iran. The study was performed on 56 employees of the WWTP of one of the southern cities of Iran in 2020. Urine samples (n total = 112) consisting of 60 samples of employees working in the operation section (exposed group) and 52 samples of employees working in the administrative section (control group) in the WWTP were collected before and at the end of their shift. The mean concentration of urinary metabolites of BTEX of both groups ranged from 546.43 (μg/g cr) for trans, trans-muconic acid to 0.006 (μg/g cr) for methyl hippuric acid, which indicates that most of the evaluated metabolites showed a higher concentration than their occupational threshold limit value urine (p < 0.05). Regression analysis results showed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between age and utilization of flame heaters with changes in the measured BTEX metabolites in the urine. The results of this study illustrate that WWTPs should be considered as one of the workplaces with potential sources of BTEX exposure for employees. Future investigations are recommended to perform itemized appraisals of BTEX intake sources, particularly in employees of the operational sections of WWTP.
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van der Voet M, Teunis M, Louter-van de Haar J, Stigter N, Bhalla D, Rooseboom M, Wever KE, Krul C, Pieters R, Wildwater M, van Noort V. Towards a reporting guideline for developmental and reproductive toxicology testing in C. elegans and other nematodes. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2021; 10:1202-1210. [PMID: 34950447 PMCID: PMC8692742 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfab109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementation of reliable methodologies allowing Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement (3Rs) of animal testing is a process that takes several decades and is still not complete. Reliable methods are essential for regulatory hazard assessment of chemicals where differences in test protocol can influence the test outcomes and thus affect the confidence in the predictive value of the organisms used as an alternative for mammals. Although test guidelines are common for mammalian studies, they are scarce for non-vertebrate organisms that would allow for the 3Rs of animal testing. Here, we present a set of 30 reporting criteria as the basis for such a guideline for Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology (DART) testing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Small organisms like C. elegans are upcoming in new approach methodologies for hazard assessment; thus, reliable and robust test protocols are urgently needed. A literature assessment of the fulfilment of the reporting criteria demonstrates that although studies describe methodological details, essential information such as compound purity and lot/batch number or type of container is often not reported. The formulated set of reporting criteria for C. elegans testing can be used by (i) researchers to describe essential experimental details (ii) data scientists that aggregate information to assess data quality and include data in aggregated databases (iii) regulators to assess study data for inclusion in regulatory hazard assessment of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Teunis
- Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Innovative testing in Life Sciences & Chemistry, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Johanna Louter-van de Haar
- Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Innovative testing in Life Sciences & Chemistry, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nienke Stigter
- Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Innovative testing in Life Sciences & Chemistry, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Diksha Bhalla
- KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martijn Rooseboom
- Toxicology group Shell International B.V., 2596 HR, The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Kimberley E Wever
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department for Health Evidence, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Cyrille Krul
- Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Innovative testing in Life Sciences & Chemistry, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Raymond Pieters
- Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Innovative testing in Life Sciences & Chemistry, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Utrecht University, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, 3584 CM, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Vera van Noort
- KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Leiden University, Institute of Biology Leiden, 2333 BE, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Shan X, Zhang L, Ye H, Shao J, Shi Y, Tan S, Zhang L, Su K. Analytical techniques for monitoring of toluene and xylene exposure biomarkers hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid in human urine samples. Bioanalysis 2021; 13:1569-1584. [PMID: 34696600 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2021-0180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantification of hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid in human urine matrices provides information on the toluene and xylene exposure conditions. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV detection is the preferable technique for hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid detection in human urine. This study was conducted to present analytical techniques developed for monitoring of hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid in human urine matrices during 2016-2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Shan
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Haipeng Ye
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Ji Shao
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Yanpeng Shi
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Siwei Tan
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Kewen Su
- Hangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention & Control Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
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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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