Assessment of liver dysfunction in silica exposed workers

Seventy five silica exposed workers in sandbricks industry and twenty five controls were chosen for this study. Each individual was subjected to a questionnaire [for personal and medical histories] and clinical examination. Liver function tests, procollagen III peptide, alpha-I - antitrypsin, hepatitis markers [B and C], haematological tests for schistosomiasis, urine and stool analysis, abdominal sonography and chest X-ray were done for all chosen subjects. Environmental study was done for estimation of total and free crystalline silica. The results of environmental study showed higher concentration of total respirable dust and free crystalline silica than threshold limit values. Silica exposed workers had a significantly higher mean of gamma-glutamyl trans peptidase and procollagen III peptide than controls. These two parameters increased significantly in exposed workers [free from schistosomiasis and / or hepatitis markers] as chest grading of silicosis and time intensity factor increased. Gamma-glutamyl-trans peptidase and procollagen III peptide can be used for early detection of liver dysfunction in silica exposed workers. Also, in the pre-employment medical examination, individuals with previous liver affection [either due to schistosomiasis and / or hepatitis] should not be exposed to silica to avoid further deterioration of liver function

Health care quality and impact on: radiologists in Menoufiya hospitals

This Study aimed to assess the protective measures done for prevention of health hazards of ionizing radiation in Menoufiya hospitals. This was achieved through assessment of the environmental safety, performance of radiologists and also through assessment of the health hazards among exposed subjects. All occupationally X-ray exposed workers [l05 males and 37 females] were matched with an equal number of controls, the exposed workers were subdivided into two subgroups according to locality. This study revealed that: although the studied work place environment was considered safe as regards the level of exposure to ionizing radiation [88.7 +/- 20 mrem / year, which is less than MPDE limit] and consequently acceptable structural protective aspects design especially in group I hospitals, but the prevalence of health hazards including behavioral [69.7%], reproductive [21%], skin [25%], cataract [19%] and hematological [33%] abnormalities were significantly higher than controls, also the prevalence of reproductive, skin and hematological disorders were significantly higher among group II workers than group I which could be attributed to bad performance of the radiologists especially in group II workers. Performance of radiologists with negligence of radiation protection measures is considered the most important defect which has its bad impact on health of radiologists in Menoufiya, hence efforts should be directed towards establishment of radiation protection program in hospitals

Hepatic disorders among workers exposed to cotton dust containing pesticide residues

One hundred exposed and fifty control workers in a cotton ginning factory were chosen for this study. All were subjected to a special questionnaire including personal data together with clinical examination. The investigations involved detrmination of liver function parameters, detection of hepatitis markers [B and C], haemagglutination test for schistosomiasis, urine and stool analysis and liver sonography. Environmental study was done for estimation of concentration and pesticide residue contents of cotton dust collected from the factory atmosphere. This study was carried out twice; before and after [1991 - 1992] and before [1992 - 1993] ginning seasons. Subgrouping of studied workers was done according to the presence or absence of schistosomiasis and / or hepatitis markers, or according to sonographic pattern of the liver. The results of environmental study showed a concentration of respirable cotton dust in the atmosphere of different departments higher than the recommended threshold limit value in this industry. In cotton dust, the median measurements of different pesticide residues [organochlorine, organophosphorus, and carbamate] were below their threshold limit values. The study demonstrated a significant increase in SGPT, SGOT, SAP and gamma-GT among exposed than control groups at the end of the ginning season. Other liver functions including total and direct bilirubin, serum albumin and total serum protein showed no significant abnormal changes. Significant increase in SGPT, SGOT, SAP and gamma-GT were found among exposed subgroups when the comparison was done between pre and post seasons in each, or between different subgroups. Subgroup IV [free from schistosomiasis and / or hepatitis] and subgroup A [free from cirrhosis and periportal fibrosis] showed the significantly lowest mean values. The seasonal rest was associated with return to basic pre seasonal values of liver parameters. Moreover, there was a trend of increase in mean values of SGPT, SGOT, SAP and gamma-GT in exposed workers as the duration of exposure or the concentration of pesticide residues increased

Serum cholinesterase changes in workers exposed to organophosphorus and carbamate residues in cotton dust

One hundred exposed and fifty control workers in a cotton ginning factory were chosen for this study. All were subjected to a special questionnaire. The investigations involved determination of serum cholinesterase activity, detection of hepatitis markers [B and C], haemagglutination test for schistosomiasis, urine and stool analysis and liver sonography. Environmental study was done for estimation of pesticide [or-ganophosphorus and carbamate] residue contents of cotton dust collected from the factory atmosphere. This study was carried out twice: before and after [1991-1992] and before [1992-1993] ginning seasons. The results of environmental study showed that the median measurements of or-ganophosphorus and carbamate pesticide residues in the atmospheric dust were below their threshold limit values. The study demonstrated a non-significant lower level of serum cholinesterase activity in exposed workers before the beginning of work season than controls. A significantly lower level of serum cholinesterase activity was observed at the end of the ginning season among the exposed workers than controls, in subgroups of exposed workers with schistosomiasis, hepatitis markers and liver cirrhosis than other subgroups free from these diseases and in subgroups exposed to higher level of or-ganophospborus and carbamate residues. There was a trend of decrease in serum cholinesterase activity with the increase in duration of exposure

Study of blood met-hemoglobin, liver functions and urinary metabolites among trinitrotoluene [TNT] workers

This study was done on 55 non-belharzial workers, in an Egyptian military factory, exposed to T.N.T. and other 20 non-exposed controls. Each worker was subjected to full clinical history and examination, analysis of urine for T.N.T. metabolites, blood for Met-Hb., serum for GPT and Ap and plasma for albumen,. Results indicated that exposure to T.N.T. could lead to significant rise in serum Ap and also to significant increase in liver span, early before the appearance of manifested jaundice. Both parameters could serve as early indicators for T.N.T. hepatotoxicity. Also we found that GPT did not show similar significant difference between exposed and non-exposed workers. On the other hand the measurements of blood Met-Hb. and T.N.T. metabolites in urine proved to be sensitive indicators for T.N.T. exposure and absorption respectively, but not for hepatotoxicity

Study of the nutritional status of primary school children in a rural area of Egypt

This study was done on 196 School children [120 boys and 76 Girls] aged 8-12 years in a rural area of Egypt. Results showed that great majority of them came from families characterized by high crowding index, large size, and illiteracy which significantly affected their nutritional status. 43.88% of these children had parasitic infestations [mainly S.] which exerted a significant adverse effect on their nutritional status. Also 68.9% of them showed signs suggestive of malnutrition. Height and weight measurements were all below Sarhan's Egyptian local standards and Frisancho norms, except for girls at the age of 11 years and over who showed higher values due to the earlier pubertal changes occurring in rural communities than in urban areas. Also girls showed significant higher arm anthropometric measurements than boys which was attributed to the more deposition of fat in them. Hb% was below 12 gm% in nearly 40% of cases indicating anaemia while mean albumen concentration was within normal limits pointing to its hyposensitivity in evaluation of the protein status of children

Silicosis among sand bricks workers

This study was made on [150] workers in Queisna Sand Bricks Factory in Menoufia Governorate. All workers were subjetted to through clinical examinations, large chest X-ray films and pulmonary function tests using a Vitalograph with Functional Analyser. Medget impinger and Electrostatic precipitator were used from measuring silica dust. The average dust concentrations [mppcf]; weight [Mg/m[3]] and free silica percentage, were all above the threshold limit value [T.L.V.]. The incidence of silicosis was high [39.33%] among the examined group of workers. The results proved that the prevalence of sillicosis among and bricks workers, is mainly dependant on the factor of time and intensity of exposure [P.I.F] and is not necessarily associated with chronic bronchitis or smoking. Also the profusion of X-ray opacities was found significantly related to the T.I.F. and chronic ventilatory impairment in silicotics was probably the outcome of the silicotic process itself irrespective of the presence of chronic bronchitis or smoking habits. The degree of this impairment was found significantly related to the size and profusion of X-ray opacities. Dust control measures and other preventive steps were seriously recommended for the control of dust and prevention of this high prevalence of silicosis in Queisna sand Bricks Factory