Fatemeh Kargar Shouroki1, Seyed Jamaleddin Shahtaheri2, Farideh Golbabaei3, Abolfazle Barkhordari4, Abbas Rahimi-Froushani5. 1. Student Research Committee, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. shahtaheri@tums.ac.ir. 3. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. 5. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chromium exposure occurs in various industries such as ceramics industry. The main disadvantage of chromium is high toxicity when absorbed by the body. This study aimed to determine and compare urinary chromium values in the pre- and post-shift of ceramic glazers and the control group; investigate urinary chromium value according to the study variables; compare pulmonary function tests between ceramic glazers vs. the control group. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was carried out in Yazd City, central Iran on 49 glazers and 55 office workers in the same workplace as the control group. The urine samples were collected at both start and end of the work shift, and the control group was examined only once. Preparation of samples were conducted by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). The analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). All the participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire comprising of questions about smoking habits, work shift, skin dermatitis, job title, using mask, ventilation system, duration of exposure, overtime working, age, weight, and height. The lung function tests were performed on study groups. RESULTS: The concentration of chromium after the glazer's shift was 2.73 times higher than the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) recommended by the occupational and environmental health center of Iran. Lung function tests were significantly lower in the glazers compared with the control group (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Skin dermatitis and overtime working are the main determinants of high chromium level in glazers.
BACKGROUND:Chromium exposure occurs in various industries such as ceramics industry. The main disadvantage of chromium is high toxicity when absorbed by the body. This study aimed to determine and compare urinary chromium values in the pre- and post-shift of ceramic glazers and the control group; investigate urinary chromium value according to the study variables; compare pulmonary function tests between ceramic glazers vs. the control group. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was carried out in Yazd City, central Iran on 49 glazers and 55 office workers in the same workplace as the control group. The urine samples were collected at both start and end of the work shift, and the control group was examined only once. Preparation of samples were conducted by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). The analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). All the participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire comprising of questions about smoking habits, work shift, skin dermatitis, job title, using mask, ventilation system, duration of exposure, overtime working, age, weight, and height. The lung function tests were performed on study groups. RESULTS: The concentration of chromium after the glazer's shift was 2.73 times higher than the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) recommended by the occupational and environmental health center of Iran. Lung function tests were significantly lower in the glazers compared with the control group (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Skin dermatitis and overtime working are the main determinants of high chromium level in glazers.