Cement dust exposure-related emphysema in a construction worker

Respiratory health evaluation of construction workers using questionnaire

Relevance . With growing economy and flourishing construction industries the comorbidities among construction workers are also raised. They are exposed to various dust, fumes, noxious gases and vapours making them susceptible to chronic airway diseases like Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the respiratory health status of construction workers in an unorganised sector. Materials and Methods . The data collected from National Capital of Delhi region in an unorganised sector of construction workers by using a Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire by the Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental research, Basaidarapur, Delhi, India. All the participant response was noted and the answers were evaluated to see respiratory health status of workers. Total 200 workers were evaluated. Total 182 males and 18 female participated in the study. Results and Discussion . 25% of workers reported poor health at the time of the survey, while only 4% of workers considered their health to be very good. Among the main complaints were indicated: cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, chest infections, attacks of wheezing. The overall mean of Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire core was 33.55. It increases with the working period in the construction field with 21.6% for 10years and 49.1 for 30years experienced workers, while workers with 11 to 20 years of experience, the score was 28.4. The Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire score was 35.1 in 21-30 years of experienced construction workers. Conclusion . As a result of the study, construction workers are found to be at high risk of various respiratory diseases and related disabilities. Participants in this study did not receive any treatment for respiratory problems at any clinic. This means the importance of occupational health education and the use of personal protective equipment and safe working conditions for construction workers.

Standardized experimental model for cement dust exposure; tissue heavy metal bioaccumulation and pulmonary pathological changes in rats

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Exposure model is a reliable method of studying pulmonary toxicity of aerosolized xenobiotics.

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Deposition of particles beyond the conducting zone and tissue bioaccumulation accompany exposure to cement dust (ECD).

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Histoarchitectural alteration, body-organ weight discordance are indicators of acute ECD.

A controlled experimental model of exposure to aerosols particularly for cement dust was recently invented in a study from the laboratory that found high serum levels of heavy metals, decrease gastrointestinal motility, and altered hematological variables in cement dust exposed rats. However, reproducibility was not considered. This work aims at standardizing the model and investigating preliminary toxicological indicators. Thirty male rats used in this study were divided into 3 groups (n = 10). Group 1; control, while groups 2 and 3 were exposed to cement dust for 14 days and 28 days respectively. We assessed clinical signs of toxicity, tissue heavy metal concentration, histopathological, and body weight (BW) changes. We observed poor movement coordination, abnormal posture, cephalic fur loss. Evidence of ischemia and fibrotic pneumoconiosis were grossly observed in the lungs of the exposed groups. There was a significant increase in tissue level of heavy metals with pulmonary and gastric heavy metal content showing a trendy relationship during the period of the exposure as the value of Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, Iron, Calcium, and Nickel increased by nearly similar percentages in both tissues. Organs weights increased; the 14-day exposed (198 ± 31; 168 ± 22) and 28-day exposed (198 ± 22; 187 ± 26) groups had significantly reduced body weight at the first and second weeks of exposure compared to the control group (265 ± 26; 357 ± 40) respectively. Exposure to cement dust induced low bone density in the exposed rats (p < 0.05). Histopathological alterations include necrosis, inflammatory cellular infiltration, and alveolar hyperplasia suggestive of the proliferative response of pulmonary tissue to the dust. The operation of the standardized apparatus mimics a typical occupational exposure and the findings show that cement dust induces systemic toxicity via respiratory perturbation and body/organ weight discordance mediated by heavy metal bioaccumulation.

Biomass energy, particulate matter (PM2.5), and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Congolese women living near of a cement plant, in Kongo Central Province

This study investigated whether the individual and combined effects of using biomass energy and living in the neighborhood of a cement plant were associated with the risk of COPD and respiratory symptoms among Congolese women. A total of 235 women from two neighborhood communities of a cement plant participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were classified into the more exposed group (MEG = 137) and a less exposed group (LEG = 98), as well as into biomass users (wood = 85, charcoal = 49) or electricity users (101 participants). Participants completed a questionnaire including respiratory symptoms, sociodemographic factors, medical history, lifestyle, and household characteristics. In addition to spirometry performance, outdoor PM_2.5 (μg/m³) was measured. Afternoon outdoor PM_2.5 concentration was significantly higher in MEG than LEG (48.8 (2.5) μg/m³ vs 42.5 (1.5) μg/m³). Compared to electricity users, wood users (aOR: 2.6, 95%CI 1.7; 5.9) and charcoal users (aOR: 2.9, 95%CI 1.4; 10.7) were at risk of developing airflow obstruction. Combined effects of biomass use and living in the neighborhood of a cement plant increased the risk of COPD in both wood users (aOR: 4, 95%CI 1.3; 12.2) and charcoal users (aOR: 3.1, 95%CI 1.7; 11.4). Exposure to biomass energy is associated with an increased risk of COPD. In addition, combined exposure to biomass and living near a cement plant had additive effects on COPD.

Zebrafish prmt5 arginine methyltransferase is essential for germ cell development

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5), a type II arginine methyltransferase, symmetrically dimethylates arginine in nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. Prmt5 is involved in a variety of cellular processes, including ribosome biogenesis, cellular differentiation, germ cell development and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms by which prmt5 influences cellular processes have remained unclear. Here, prmt5 loss in zebrafish led to the expression of an infertile male phenotype due to a reduction in germ cell number, an increase in germ cell apoptosis and the failure of gonads to differentiate into normal testes or ovaries. Moreover, arginine methylation of the germ cell-specific proteins Zili and Vasa, as well as histones H3 (H3R8me2s) and H4 (H4R3me2s), was reduced in the gonads of prmt5-null zebrafish. This resulted in the downregulation of several Piwi pathway proteins, including Zili, and Vasa. In addition, various genes related to meiosis, gonad development and sexual differentiation were dysregulated in the gonads of prmt5-null zebrafish. Our results revealed a novel mechanism associated with prmt5, i.e. prmt5 apparently controls germ cell development in vertebrates by catalyzing arginine methylation of the germline-specific proteins Zili and Vasa.

Effect of Exposure to Cement Dust among the Workers: An Evaluation of Health Related Complications

BACKGROUND:

Cement contains various types of chemicals in addition to lime and silica, and such chemicals cause different health complications and pathogenesis in addition to respiratory disorders. The most important occupational hazards for cement workers are allergy and complication related to respiratory system.

AIM:

The current study was performed by analysing the questionnaire distributed among the workers and also by the sputum collected from them to study the general health conditions and other life activities.

METHODS:

Sputum samples were assayed for cytological analysis by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining.

RESULTS:

In this study, it was observed that majority of these workers suffered from different types of respiratory complications, such as a cough, asthma and lung infections. In addition to this, few subjects showed allergy and other complication like hypertension, diabetes and backache. Moreover, cytological analysis of the sputum was made, and it was observed that majority of the subjects showed severe inflammation.

CONCLUSION:

Based on these finding, we concluded that long-term cement dust exposure and inhalation causes respiratory complications due to epithelial tissue damage and that can lead to secondary complications as well.