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Self?reported disease symptoms of stone quarry workers exposed to silica dust in Ghana

ABSTRACT: Abstract Background and aims Understanding the importance of using personal protective equipment (PPE) and the influence of work?post (working distance to main dust source—crusher) in stone quarries is vital for designing tailored interventions in minimizing workers' exposure to silica dust. Nonetheless, studies on silica dust and disease symptoms in Ghana are nascent. This study assessed how work?post and use of required PPE jointly influence exposure to silica dust and disease symptoms in Ghana. Methods Generalized linear models (complementary log?log regression) were fitted to cross?sectional survey data of 524 stone quarry workers in Ghana to assess the joint effect of work?post and PPE usage on self?reported disease symptoms while controlling for relevant compositional and contextual factors. Results Stone quarry workers who work between 1?100?m and beyond 100?m from the crusher with the required PPE were 90% and 87% respectively less likely to report eye irritation compared with their counterparts who work between 1 and 100?m from the crusher without the required PPE. Individuals who work between 1?100?m and beyond 100?m from the crusher with the required PPE were 94% and 95% respectively less likely to report breathing difficulty compared with the reference group. Workers who work between 1?100?m and beyond 100?m from the crusher with the required PPE were 97% and 99% respectively less likely to report coughing compared with the reference group. Workers who work between 1?100?m and beyond 100?m from the crusher with the required PPE were 93% and 97% respectively less likely to report common cold compared with their counterparts who work between 1 and 100?m from the crusher without the required PPE. Conclusion There are adverse health implications for people who work in silica dust polluted environments, suggesting the need for a national safety and health policy to target them.

SUBMITTER: Ahadzi D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7534518 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Dust and fumes are complex mixtures of airborne gases and fine particles present in all environments inhabited by people. This study investigated the relationship between occupational dust exposure levels and mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia or sleep disturbance. We analyzed data from the third and fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency in 2011 and 2014. We performed chi-square tests to compare the different baseline and occupational characteristics and mental health status according to occupational dust exposure levels. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for mental health symptoms (fatigue, depression or anxiety, and insomnia or sleep disturbance) were calculated using adjusted multiple logistic regression models. A total of 78,512 participants (43,979 in men, 34,533 in women) were included in this study. Among them, 6,013 (7.7%) and 2,625 (3.3%) reported "moderate" and "severe" dust exposure, respectively. Among those who answered "yes" to depression or anxiety, fatigue, insomnia or sleep disturbance, 50 (4.6%), 961 (4.8%), and 123 (5.9%), respectively, demonstrated "severe" occupational dust exposure. Compared to "low" levels of dust exposure, "moderate" and "severe" exposure increased the risk of depression and anxiety (OR = 1.09, 95%CI: 0.88-1.36; OR = 1.16, 95%CI: 0.87-1.58, per exposure respectively); however, this was not statistically significant. For fatigue, significance was observed for "moderate" 1.54 (1.46-1.64) and "severe" 1.65 (1.52-1.80) exposure levels. "Severe" levels increased the risk of insomnia or sleep disturbance (OR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.25-1.85). These results suggest that the "dust annoyance" concept of mental health, which may be explained by a neurocognitive mechanism, is plausible. Occupational "dust annoyance" has been linked to workers' mental health status, particularly in terms of fatigue and sleep disturbance; a dose-response relationship has been observed. Workers should be protected against dust to support their health and productivity.

Project description:Background: Chronic silica exposure can lead to silicosis, complicated or not by autoimmune diseases (AID). The pathophysiology of silica-induced AID remains not fully understood, especially immune mechanisms that may develop in patients without yet established silicosis. We conducted a prospective clinical study to analyze the impact of crystalline silica (CS) on T cell phenotype and regulatory T cells (Tregs) frequency, as well as on auto-antibodies development in non-silicotic workers exposed to CS. Methods: Workers with moderate to high exposure level to CS and aged between 30 and 60 years-old were considered for inclusion. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Auto-antibodies were screened in serum by immunofluorescence. Blood from 42 and 45 healthy subjects (HC) was used as control for T cell phenotype and serum analyses, respectively. Results: Among the 63 included workers exposed to CS, 55 had full data available and were analyzed. Ten were exposed to CS for <5 years, 18 for 5-10 years and 27 for more than 10 years. The frequency of Tregs (CD4+CD25+CD127-FoxP3+) was significantly lower in CS exposed workers as compared to HC. We found an increased expression of the activation marker HLA-DR on T cells (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+) of CS exposed workers as compared to HC. Tregs to activated T cells ratio was also lower in exposed subjects. In the latter, HLA-DR expression level and Tregs frequency were significantly associated with CS exposure duration. Serum autoantibody detection was significantly higher in CS exposed workers as compared to HC. Especially, among workers exposed more than 10 years, antinuclear antibodies and ANCA were detected in 44 and 22% among them, as compared to 5 and 2.5% in HC, respectively. Conclusion: This work shows that CS exposure is associated with a decrease of Tregs frequency, an increase of T cell activation status, and a tolerance breakdown against auto-antigens. These results show that alterations of the T cell compartment can be detected early over the course of CS exposure, preceding silicosis development or AID onset.

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Self?reported disease symptoms of stone quarry workers exposed to silica dust in Ghana

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