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Kayembe-Kitenge T, Kabange Umba I, Musa Obadia P, Mbuyi-Musanzayi S, Nkulu Banza P, Katoto PDMC, Katshiez Nawej C, Kalenga Ilunga G, Haufroid V, Banza Lubaba Nkulu C, Nawrot T, Nemery B. Respiratory Health and Urinary Trace Metals among Artisanal Stone-Crushers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lubumbashi, DR Congo. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17249384. [PMID: 33334018 PMCID: PMC7765357 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Background: Thousands of artisanal workers are exposed to mineral dusts from various origins in the African Copperbelt. We determined the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and urinary metals among artisanal stone-crushers in Lubumbashi. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 48 male artisanal stone-crushers and 50 male taxi-drivers using a standardized questionnaire and spirometry. Concentrations of trace metals were measured by Inductively Coupled - Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in urine spot samples. Results: Urinary Co, Ni, As, and Se were higher in stone-crushers than in control participants. Wheezing was more prevalent (p = 0.021) among stone-crushers (23%) than among taxi-drivers (6%). In multiple logistic regression analysis, the job of a stone-crusher was associated to wheezing (adjusted Odds Ratio 4.45, 95% Confidence Interval 1.09–18.24). Stone-crushers had higher values (% predicted) than taxi-drivers for Forced Vital Capacity (105.4 ± 15.9 vs. 92.2 ± 17.8, p = 0.048), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (104.4 ± 13.7 vs. 88.0 ± 19.6, p = 0.052), and Maximum Expiratory Flow at 25% of the Forced Vital Capacity (79.0.1 ± 20.7 vs. 55.7 ± 30.1, p = 0.078). Conclusion: Stone-crushers were more heavily exposed to mineral dust and various trace elements than taxi-drivers, and they had a fourfold increased risk of reporting wheezing, but they did not have evidence of more respiratory impairment than taxi-drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Kayembe-Kitenge
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; (T.K.-K.); (I.K.U.); (P.M.O.); (S.M.-M.); (P.N.B.); (G.K.I.); (C.B.L.N.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malemba-Nkulu, Malemba, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.D.M.C.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Irene Kabange Umba
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; (T.K.-K.); (I.K.U.); (P.M.O.); (S.M.-M.); (P.N.B.); (G.K.I.); (C.B.L.N.)
| | - Paul Musa Obadia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; (T.K.-K.); (I.K.U.); (P.M.O.); (S.M.-M.); (P.N.B.); (G.K.I.); (C.B.L.N.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malemba-Nkulu, Malemba, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.D.M.C.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Sebastien Mbuyi-Musanzayi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; (T.K.-K.); (I.K.U.); (P.M.O.); (S.M.-M.); (P.N.B.); (G.K.I.); (C.B.L.N.)
| | - Patient Nkulu Banza
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; (T.K.-K.); (I.K.U.); (P.M.O.); (S.M.-M.); (P.N.B.); (G.K.I.); (C.B.L.N.)
| | - Patrick D. M. C. Katoto
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.D.M.C.K.); (T.N.)
- Department of Internal Medicine and Prof Lurhuma Biomedical Research Laboratory, Mycobacterium Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Cyrille Katshiez Nawej
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kolwezi, Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo;
| | - Georges Kalenga Ilunga
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; (T.K.-K.); (I.K.U.); (P.M.O.); (S.M.-M.); (P.N.B.); (G.K.I.); (C.B.L.N.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malemba-Nkulu, Malemba, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Vincent Haufroid
- Louvain Center for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; (T.K.-K.); (I.K.U.); (P.M.O.); (S.M.-M.); (P.N.B.); (G.K.I.); (C.B.L.N.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malemba-Nkulu, Malemba, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Tim Nawrot
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.D.M.C.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Benoit Nemery
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.D.M.C.K.); (T.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-1633-0801
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Kayembe-Kitenge T, Kasole Lubala T, Musa Obadia P, Katoto Chimusa P, Katshiez Nawej C, Banza Lubaba Nkulu C, Devriendt K, Nemery B. Holoprosencephaly: A case series from an area with high mining-related pollution. Birth Defects Res 2019; 111:1561-1563. [PMID: 31419067 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The extraction and processing of copper and cobalt in the African Copperbelt in the Democratic Republic of Congo have led to substantial environmental pollution, causing concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, including birth defects. CASES We report three neonates with clinically diagnosed holoprosencephaly who were part of a case-control study performed in Lubumbashi between February 2013 and February 2015. One mother had a high concentration of uranium in urine, and high manganese concentrations were found in blood of another mother and in cord blood of one infant. Two of the three fathers had a mining-related job. DISCUSSION We hypothesize that these cases of holoprosencephaly were connected to mining-related pollution, possibly via epigenetic alterations induced by paternal occupational exposure to toxic metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Kayembe-Kitenge
- Unit of Toxicology and Environment, School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DR Congo.,Department of Internal Medicine University Hospital, University of Malemba-Nkulu, Malemba-Nkulu, DR Congo.,Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Toni Kasole Lubala
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DR Congo
| | - Paul Musa Obadia
- Unit of Toxicology and Environment, School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DR Congo.,Department of Internal Medicine University Hospital, University of Malemba-Nkulu, Malemba-Nkulu, DR Congo.,Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Katoto Chimusa
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, DR Congo
| | | | - Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu
- Unit of Toxicology and Environment, School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DR Congo.,Department of Internal Medicine University Hospital, University of Malemba-Nkulu, Malemba-Nkulu, DR Congo
| | - Koenraad Devriendt
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benoit Nemery
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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