Objective:
To evaluate the respiratory health and its relationship with exposure to silica, smoking, ?1-antitrypsin, and Pi phenotype in aggregate quarries workers.
Methods:
In a prevalence study, 378 subjects were studied, x-ray opacities and pulmonary function was analyzed in relation to cumulative dust exposure, smoking, ?1- antitrypsin, and Pi phenotype.
Results:
The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of round opacities (?0/1) was significantly related to smoking (P <0.001). The predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) percentage had a negative relationship with the product dust? pack-years (P = 0.005). The OR of FEV1 90% was 3.03 for smokers exposed to dust versus nonexposed nonsmokers (P = 0.049). The criteria for dust-tobacco interaction are satisfied. A subgroup with the highest level of ?1-antitrypsin presented more opacities and worse pulmonary function.
Conclusions: Radiologic alterations are found in relation to tobacco. The FEV1 has a negative relation with the product dust-tobacco. No alterations related to Pi phenotype are found. A subgroup with the highest ?1-antitrypsin levels had more radiologic alterations and worse function
Adverse Effects of Occupational Exposure to Lead and Cadmium
Objectives: In this work, we studied impregnation levels of workers occupationally exposed to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), usefulness of early urinary markers of nephrotoxicity, and occurrence of oxidative stress as the underlying mechanism involved in Pb- or Cd-induced adverse effects. Thirtyfive men were recruited from a nonferrous metal smelter. Pb and Cd in blood (B-Pb, B-Cd) and urine (U-Pb, U-Cd) were measured. Relations between oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, selenium, glutathione reductase, glutathione status, 8-hydroxy-2?-deoxyguanosine) and exposure levels, on the one hand, and early urinary markers (alpha-1-microprotein, beta-2-microglobulin, retinol binding protein, alpha and pi-glutathione S-transferases) and exposure levels, on the other hand, were evaluated.