RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to investigate some of the health problems among cement workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional sample of 304 workers was selected randomly from four cement factories in four Emirates. Most of the workers (88%) were from India, married (84%) and had received primary education or above (93%). Smoking was prevalent among 27% of the workers and about 24% consumed alcoholic beverages. Personal hygiene was found to be satisfactory among the workers. The main health symptoms reported by the cement workers were chronic cough, chronic bronchitis, burning, itching and runny eyes, headache and fatigue. Chronic bronchitis (p < 0.007), burning, itching and runny eyes (p < 0.002) and fatigue (p < 0.004) were significantly increased with age of workers. Smoking was significantly associated with chronic cough (p < 0.03) and chronic bronchitis (p < 0.01). However, the chance of smokers getting respiratory health problems was two to five times greater compared with non-smokers. Future studies on the health of workers in UAE should include more investigations using specialised equipment to detect and diagnose health problems.
Asunto(s)
Materiales de Construcción/efectos adversos , Polvo/efectos adversos , Estado de Salud , Enfermedades Profesionales/epidemiología , Enfermedades Respiratorias/epidemiología , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Humanos , Prevalencia , Distribución Aleatoria , Factores de Riesgo , Emiratos Árabes Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Somatic cell mutation in human peripheral lymphocytes is one of the tools used recently in the biological monitoring of the work environment. The scope of this review was to test whether biomonitoring methods are sensitive to the presence of mercury (Hg) in the body. We used the following techniques: micronucleus frequency (MN), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), and hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) assay in human lymphocytes. A total number of 30 male workers exposed to Hg vapors in chloralkali industry had been selected and compared with 30 control subjects. The concentration of mercury in urine (HgU) was used as a biological index of exposure. The exposed group showed higher levels of MN (32.0 +/- 1.7), SCE (7.3 +/- 0.2),and HGPRT mutations (0.94 +/- 0.01) then the nonexposed controls. We recommend the introduction of somatic cell mutation analysis in the periodic medical examination of workers exposed to Hg vapors.