Association of metal/metalloids exposure with abnormal liver function among occupational population in a mining area of Hunan Province:a prospective study
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of metals/metalloids exposure with risk of liver disfunction among occupational population in Hunan Province,and to explore the potential dose-response relationship.METHODS In 2017,a mining area in Hunan Province was chosen as the research site,and eligible workers were recruited as study subjects.General demographic characteristics,levels of 23 metals/metalloids in plasma and urine,and liver function index(total bilirubin(TBIL),alanine amino transferase(ALT),globulin(GLB)and γ-glutamyl transferase(GGT))were obtained by questionnaire,physical examination and laboratory tests.Participants were followed up in 2018,2019 and 2020 respectively.Cox proportional risk model was used to evaluate the relationship between metal/metalloids exposure and risk of liver disfunction,and dose-response relationship curves were plotted by using the restricted cubic spline function.RESULTS A total of 891 employees were recruited in the study,576(65.0％)were aged ≤45 years,832(93.4％)were male and 530(59.5％)worked as smelters.After adjusting various factors such as age,gender,BMI,type of work,education,smoking,alcohol consumption,diet,stress,medical history,exercise and tea consumption,positive correlations were found between plasma tungsten(HR=4.90,95％CI 1.17-20.48)and urinary barium(HR=1.07,95％CI 1.02-1.12)levels with abnormally elevated TBIL levels.Additionally,a significant association was observed between plasma thallium and the risk of elevated ALT levels(HR=11.15,95％CI 1.97-63.29).CONCLUSION Plasma tungsten and thallium,along with barium found in urine,are risk factors for the development of abnormally elevated liver function indices in occupational groups.
metalmetalloidliver-functionworkerprospective cohort study
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
