Analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of new occupational pneumoconiosis in Jiangxi Province, 2010-2019 / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of new occupational pneumoconiosis(hereinafter referred to as pneumoconiosis) in Jiangxi Province from 2010 to 2019. METHODS: The data of new pneumoconiosis cases in Jiangxi Province from 2010 to 2019 were collected through the Occupational Disease and Occupational Disease Health Information Monitoring Subsystem in the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and a retrospective analysis was conducted. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2019, there were 4 450 new cases of pneumoconiosis in Jiangxi Province. Among these cases, the main disease types were coal workers′ pneumoconiosis and silicosis, accounting for 98.5%. The number of new cases of pneumoconiosis showed a decreasing trend with the increase of years for the last ten years(P<0.05). The median age and the 0 th-100 th percentile [M(P_0-P_(100))] of new-onset pneumoconiosis diagnosis was 56.6(34.0-97.0) years old. The service length M(P_0-P_(100)) with dust-exposure was 12.0(1.0-48.0) years. The main industry of the new pneumoconiosis cases was concentrated in the coal mining and washing industry(63.4%). The distribution of economic types of enterprises with new pneumoconiosis cases was mainly state-owned enterprises(70.0%). The enterprise scale was medium-sized and small enterprises(65.9% in total). The types of work were mainly coal blenders, rock drillers, and coal miners, accounting for 56.5%. CONCLUSION: The incidence of occupational pneumoconiosis in Jiangxi Province is not optimistic. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of occupational diseases on workers exposed to dust in key industries, enterprises and types of work.

Investigation on the current status of silica dust hazard in workplaces in Jiangxi Province / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current status of silica dust hazard in workplaces of Jiangxi Province. METHODS: The level of silica dust in the air of workplaces, occupational health examination of the dust-exposed workers and diagnosis of occupational disease in 1 557 enterprises in Jiangxi Province were investigated and analyzed. RESULTS: The 1 557 enterprises were included in eight industries, and the main types of enterprises were non-coal mining, ceramic products manufacturing and stone processing industry(a total of 85.16%). There were 4 029 jobs/positions that were involved in exposure to silica dust in these workplaces. Among them, the exposure concentration of time weighted average(C_(TWA)) of total dust and respirable dust exceeded 21.52% and 20.55%, respectively. The posts where the total dust and respirable dust that exceed the standard were found in the quartz sand processing industry, non-ferrous metal smelting industry and stone processing industry, that were the top three among the eight industries(all P<0.01). Among the 828 posts with C_(TWA) of respiratory dust exceeding the standard, the C_(TWA) exceeding rate of mild-, moderate-and high-hazardous jobs were 3.87%(156/4 029), 1.66%(67/4 029) and 15.02%(605/4 029), respectively. Among 23 643 dust-exposed workers, the detection rates of occupational contraindications and suspected silicosis were 2.06% and 1.51%, and the prevalence of silicosis was 1.21%. CONCLUSION: Silica dust hazard in workplaces of quartz sand processing industry, non-ferrous metal smelting industry and stone processing industry are serious in Jiangxi Province. The supervision and management of occupational health should be further strengthened to guarantee the occupational health of workers.

Analysis on the influencing factors of low back pain in the occupational workers of key industries in China / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influencing factors of low back pain and the relationship of the influence of bad working posture, weight load and frequency of load and the dose-response relationship among the occupational workers of key industries in China. METHODS: A total of 57 501 employees from 15 key industries in China were selected as research subjects using stratified cluster sampling method. The occurrence of low back pain in the past one year, as well as occupational factors such as job type, labor organization and work posture were investigated by using the Chinese version Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China was 16.4%(9 448/57 501). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of low back pain in females was higher than that in males(P<0.01). Married, obese, occasional and frequent smokers, and a history of lower back disease were associated with increased risk of low back pain(all P<0.05). The risk of low back pain was associated with older age, higher education level, and lower frequency of physical exercise(all P<0.01). The risk of low back pain was higher with longer working time, greater back curvature, and the high frequency of long standing and sitting position work, uncomfortable working posture, repeated operation per minute, and lifting>5 kg weight(all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The influencing factors of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China include bad working posture, high frequency load, weight load and other individual factors. There is a dose-response relationship with low back posture load and frequency of load.

The quantitative classification and survey of sanitation of urban secondary water supply in Haidian district of Beijing / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the sanitary status of urban secondary water supply facilities in Haidian district of Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adopting the quantitative classification table drafted by the Bureau for Sanitation Inspection and Supervision of Haidian district, we carried quantitative classification (A, B, C grade) on all 1725 secondary water supply facilities in Haidian district for two times. At the same time, we collected 20 residential areas with stratified random sampling method. As the public points in the first quantitative classification, the effect of level publicity on changing the sanitary grade of the secondary water supply facilities were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the first two times of quantitative classification, A-level and B-level secondary water supply facilities took up 81.04% (1398/1725) and 89.04% (1536/1725) of all secondary water supply facilities respectively; the ratio of effective sanitary permits achieved 86.14% (1486/1725) and 92.35% (1593/1725) respectively; and the ratio of effective water quality test reports achieved 86.60% (1494/1725) and 97.10% (1675/1725) respectively. There were 52 secondary water supply facilities in 20 collected areas, including 8 A-level, 27 B-level and 17 C-level secondary water supply facilities before level publicity, and 19, 29 and 4 after level publicity. The impact of level publicity on changing the sanitary grade of the secondary water supply facilities was statistically significant (χ(2) = 12.60, P = 0.002).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The city secondary water supply facilities in Haidian district are overall in good sanitary conditions. Quantitative classification and level publicity can effectively improve the sanitary status of secondary water supply facilities.</p>

Health care status of female workers exposed to occupational hazards in Haidian district of Beijing / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the health care status of female workers exposed to occupational hazards in Haidian district of Beijing and improve the labor protection of female workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A questionnaire provided by National Center for Women and Children's Health of Chinese CDC was used in the survey conducted to collect information about health care status of female workers in 141 factories with occupational hazards including chemical poisons and physical factors (noise, libration, microwave, high frequency and low temperature).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>141 factories were investigated, including 53 state-owned enterprises, 21 collective enterprises, 46 joint-stock enterprises, and 21 non-public enterprises. 12 251 female workers were surveyed, 10.19% (1249/12 251) of whom were exposed to occupational hazards. Of 141 factories studied, 16.31% (23/141) had no labor protection management organization.27.66% (39/141) did not provide pre-employment physical examination service to female workers.48.94% (69/141) didn't establish labor protection system for female workers in menstrual period. While, 21.28% (30/141) of the studied institutes deducted some salaries in the pregnancy, and 32.62% (46/141) deducted their wages during the puerperal period. 2.13% (3/141) arranged female workers in the posts which are forbidden by law (continuous heavy work load operation).9.93% (14/141) arranged pregnant female workers on the post forbidden by law.31.91% (45/141) and 33.33% (47/141) would deduct the time of prenatal medical examination and lactation from their working hours, respectively.39.01% (55/141) didn't afford the cost of fertility. 68.09% (96/141) had annual gynecological examination.45 factories were collected occupational examination reports, accounted for 31.91% (45/141). No female workers were found suffering from occupational disease. Of the 1865 occupational hazard factor monitoring points in 34 factories, there were 155 monitoring points, which were all noise monitoring points, did not meet the standard.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The current health-care status of female workers is not optimistic. It is necessary to consistently improve health care legislations, establish coordinated management mechanism and strengthen the publicity of policy to protect female workers.</p>

The application of Delphi method in improving the score table for the hygienic quantifying and classification of hotels / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>By means of Delphi method and expert panel consultations, to choose suitable indicators and improve the score table for classifying the hygienic condition of hotels so that it can be widely used at nationwide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A two-round Delphi consultation was held to choose suitable indicators among 78 experts from 18 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. The suitable indicators were selected according to the importance recognized by experts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average length of service in public health of the experts was (21.08 +/- 5.78) years and the average coefficient of experts' authorities C(r) was 0.89 +/- 0.07. The response rates of the two-round consultation were 98.72% (77/78) and 100.00% (77/77). The average feedback time were (8.49 +/- 4.48) d, (5.86 +/- 2.28) d, and the difference between two rounds was statistically significant (t = 4.60, P < 0.01). Kendall's coefficient were 0.26 (chi(2) = 723.63, P < 0.01), 0.32 (chi(2) = 635.65, P < 0.01) and opinions among experts became consistent. The score table for the hygienic quantifying and classification of hotels was composed of three first-class indicators (hygienic management, hygienic facilities and hygienic practices) and 36 second-class indicators. The weight coefficients of the three first-class indicators were 0.35, 0.34, 0.31.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Delphi method might be used in a large-scale consultation among experts and be propitious to improve the score table for the hygienic quantifying and classification.</p>

The relation of asbestosis to human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosidase polymorphism and DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relation of asbestosis to human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosidase (hOGG1) genotype and DNA damage, the investigation of hOGG1 polymorphism distribution and DNA strand breakages in peripheral lymphocytes was carried on in occupational population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total 101 asbestos-exposed workers and 141 controls were investigated. The DNA damage level was obtained by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism by PCR-RELP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) A significant increase in the exposed group was observed in comet scores at basal (34.8 +/- 16.8), H2O2-induced (136.7 +/- 36.0) and 4 hours after repair (51.0 +/- 18.7) as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). And the scores in H2O2-induced (147.0 +/- 30.8) and 4 hours after repair (56.9 +/- 21.4) were significantly higher in asbestosis workers than in non-asbestosis ones (125.7 +/- 38.2 and 44.9 +/- 15.4, P < 0.01). (2) There was no differences of the genotype distribution between the asbestos group and the control group (chi(2) = 0.22, P = 0.89). A significant difference in the distribution of this polymorphism (Ser/Ser, Ser/Cys, Cys/Cys) between asbestosis group (25.5%, 51.0%, 23.5%) and the non-asbestosis group (48.0%, 36.0%, 16.0%) was observed (chi(2) = 6.023, P < 0.05). The comet scores at H2O2-induced and 4 hours after repair were higher in asbestosis subjects than in non-asbestosis ones (P < 0.05). (3) After adjusting ages, sex, smoking and drinking status, the odds ratios of the Cys allele for asbestosis were 0.66 (95% CI = 0.38 - 1.13) in the exposed subjects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggested that the asbestos occupational exposure might induce DNA damage and the augment on susceptivity of H2O2 oxidation and the fall of the capacity of repairing DNA damage might be one of the mechanisms to induce asbestosis among subjects with the Cys allele.</p>

Association between polymorphisms of DNA repair gene XRCC1 and DNA damage in asbestos-exposed workers / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the asbestos-induced DNA damage and repair capacities of DNA damage between 104 asbestos-exposed workers and 101 control workers in Qingdao City of China and to investigate the possible association between polymorphisms in codon 399 of XRCC1 and susceptibility to asbestosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA damage levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined by comet assay, and XRCC1 genetic polymorphisms of DNA samples from 51 asbestosis cases and 53 non-asbestosis workers with a similar asbestos exposure history were analyzed by PCR/RFLP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The basal comet scores (3.95 +/- 2.95) were significantly higher in asbestos-exposed workers than in control workers (0.10 +/- 0.28). After 1 h H2O2 stimulation, DNA damage of lymphocytes exhibited different increases. After a 4 h repair period, the comet scores were 50.98 +/- 19.53 in asbestos-exposed workers and 18.32 +/- 12.04 in controls. The residual DNA damage (RD) was significantly greater (P<0.01) in asbestos-exposed workers (35.62%) than in controls (27.75%). XRCC1 genetic polymorphism in 104 asbestos-exposed workers was not associated with increased risk of asbestosis. But compared with polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 (polymorphisms in codon 399) and the DNA damage induced by asbestos, the comet scores in asbestosis cases with Gln/Gln, Gln/Arg, and Arg/Arg were 40.26 +/- 18.94, 38.03 +/- 28.22, and 32.01 +/- 11.65, respectively, which were higher than those in non-asbestosis workers with the same genotypes (25.58 +/- 11.08, 37.08 +/- 14.74, and 29.38 +/- 10.15). There were significant differences in the comet scores between asbestosis cases and non-asbestosis workers with Gln/Gln by Student's t-test (P<0.05 or 0.01). The comet scores were higher in asbestosis workers with Gln/Gln than in those with Arg/Arg and in non-asbestosis workers exposed to asbestos, but without statistically significant difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Exposure to asbestos may be related to DNA damage or the capacity of cells to repair H2O2-induced DNA damage. DNA repair gene XRCC1 codon 399 may be responsible for the inter-individual susceptibility in DNA damage and repair capacities.</p>