Cadmium (Cd) is one of the environmental risk factors for bone loss. The present study included 40 sewage workers occupationally exposed to Cd. Forty nonexposed men were included as a control group. Current smokers represented 65% and 47.5% of the exposed and control groups, respectively. The study aimed to investigate the hazard of occupational Cd exposure on bone health. This was achieved through measuring serum and urinary Cd, and calcium (Ca), in addition to serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) and estrogen receptor-α gene. Results showed significant elevation in serum Cd, OPG, and urinary Ca levels in the exposed compared to the controls. Bony aches and joint pain were more prevalent among the exposed workers. Serum and urinary Cd increased in exposed smokers relative to control smokers. Also, serum OPG levels showed significant rise among exposed smoker and nonsmoker compared to control smoker and nonsmoker groups. Serum Cd level increased significantly in PP and pp genotypes in exposed workers compared to controls, while elevated levels of serum OPG was observed in PP and Pp genotypes in exposed workers relative to controls. Urinary Cd exhibited significant rise in both PP and pp genotypes in exposed workers, while Ca excretion was elevated in pp genotype only. The study reflected an association of genetic predisposition and Cd exposure in progression of osteoporosis. Further research is needed to explain the mechanisms of Cd impact on bone. The role of smoking is important and hence smoking cessation programs are essential for sewage workers.

Objective: The present work aimed to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to airborne molds, serum aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), and liver enzymes of workers handling wheat flour. Methods: The study included 90 bakers, 100 flour milling workers, and 100 controls with no exposure to flour dust. Workplace aspects such as temperature and relative humidity were measured. Airborne fungi were collected and identified. In all subjects included, the serum levels of AFB₁, serum albumin (Alb), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured. Results: Air temperature and relative humidity were found to be higher in bakeries than in flour mill sections. Airborne Aspergillus species were isolated in dust particles <8 µm in size. The concentration of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were higher in bakeries than in the flour mill sections. They were higher in the grinding section than in other mill sections. The serum AFB₁-Alb adduct and ALP levels were significantly higher in bakers compared to milling workers ( p < 0.0001, p = 0.05), respectively. The liver enzymes AST and ALT were significantly higher among milling workers and bakers than controls ( p < 0.05, p < 0.0001), respectively. The duration of exposure was significantly correlated with serum AFB₁ in bakers. Moreover, there was significant correlation between serum AFB₁, each of ALT and AST levels in bakers. Conclusions: chronic occupational exposure to high concentrations of Aspergillus in workplaces may cause elevations in serum levels of AFB₁ and liver enzymes in workers exposed to flour dust. Hence, worker protection measures should be consistently adopted and enforced at the workplace.

Noise exposure has been commonly regarded as the main hazard of occupational hearing loss. Recent studies indicate that several chemicals, including organic solvents have ototoxic effects. This study aimed at evaluating the hearing of workers exposed to both noise and a mixture of organic solvents at concentrations anticipated as safe. The study comprised three groups. The first one included 70 workers exposed to noise only, the second group consisted of 93 workers exposed to organic solvents and noise, and the control group included 59 individuals exposed to neither noise nor organic solvents. The three groups were matched for age, socioeconomic status, and smoking habit. The results of this study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two exposed groups as regards the duration of exposure. There was a highly statistically significant difference between the two exposed groups as regards the different types of hearing loss (conductive deafness, sensory neural hearing loss, and mixed type) compared with the control one. Our study reported that sensory neural hearing loss occurred earlier in subjects with combined exposure to noise and solvents at a mean duration of exposure (16.38 ± 9.44 years) compared to (24.53 ± 9.59 years) the subjects with sole exposure to noise. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant regarding this type of hearing impairment ( p < 0.05). There was a positive significant correlation between hearing impairment and duration of exposure in the two exposed groups. As regards the results of the environmental monitoring, both noise exposure levels (dB) and levels of different organic solvents measured (mg/m³) in different work departments were less than the levels recommended by Egyptian Environmental Law No. 4 for 1994. It is recommended that in the case of combined exposure, noise and solvent levels should be lowered than the permissible limits recommended for either alone.

AIM: The study aimed to investigate effects of organic dust exposure from different sources on aflatoxin B1-albumin adducts (AFB1/Alb), and role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphism in hepatotoxicity of (AFB1) among exposed workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Liver enzymes, AFB1/Alb, and GST polymorphism were estimated in 132 wheat flour dust and 87 woods sawmill workers, and 156 controls.RESULTS: Results revealed that AFB1/Alb and liver enzymes were significantly elevated in exposed workers compared to controls, and were significantly higher in sawmill workers compared to flour workers. AFB1/Alb in flour and sawmill workers with GSTT1 and GSTM1&GSTT1 null genotypes were significantly higher than controls, and in sawmill workers with GSTM1&GSTT1 null than flour workers. Liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in sawmill workers were significantly higher than flour workers and controls in all GST polymorphism; except in GSTT1 polymorphism, where these enzymes were significantly higher in the two exposed groups than controls.CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, organic dust exposure may cause elevation in AFB1/Alb and liver enzymes of exposed workers, and GST gene polymorphism plays an important role in susceptibility to hepatic parenchymal cell injury; except in workers with GSTT1&GSTM1 null genotype, gene susceptibility seemed to have little role and the main role was for environmental exposures.

Aluminum (Al) metal is considered one of the most benign industrial metals. Although the harmful effects of Al on respiratory health have been denied by some studies, others reported its noxious effect on the lung through spirometric measurements. This work aimed at studying the effect of Al fumes on pulmonary functions of occupationally exposed workers. It investigated the possible relationship between inhalation exposure to Al fumes and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT). The study participants comprised a group of 56 male Al workers with a mean duration of occupational exposure of 10.1 ± 9.5 years and 52 male participants who were not exposed to Al fumes as the control group. All participants filled a questionnaire, underwent full clinical examination and their spirometric pulmonary functions were measured. Blood samples were collected for the determination of serum CRP and A1AT and urine samples for measuring Al. Results revealed that urinary Al (UAl) was significantly higher in Al workers compared with controls (p < 0.05). However, spirometric measures showed no significant difference between the exposed group and the controls. A1AT was significantly lowered in Al workers compared with the controls (p < 0.000). Serum CRP was positive in only two (3.6%) of the exposed workers. Smokers of both groups (exposed and controls) showed significantly higher UAl and lower A1AT compared with nonsmokers. There was only significant negative correlation between the duration of exposure and A1AT (p < 0.05). There was a positive significant correlation between smoking index (SI) and UAl. There was also significant negative correlation between SI and some of the pulmonary function tests namely the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second and peak expiratory flow in the exposed group. Those correlations point to the importance of the combined effect of smoking and Al exposure on the impairment of lung functions. The study recommends the determination of CRP and A1AT in Al-exposed workers. It is expected that those parameters may undergo changes before reduction in pulmonary functions takes place.

Background: Aircraft noise is an environmental stressor. A positive relationship exists between noise and high blood pressure. Shift work is an additional hazardous working condition with negative effect on the behavior attitude of workers. Objective: This study aimed at investigating some health hazards for shift work on workers at Cairo International Airport (CIA), Egypt, as a strategic work place, with more than one stressor. Subjects and Methods: Assessment of noise effects were carried out in four working sites at the airport besides control sites. The average noise level in the exposure sites was 106.5 dB compared with 54 dB at the control sites. The study comprised a group of 200 male workers exposed to aircraft noise and 110 male workers not exposed to noise as control group. All workers had full general medical examination after filling specially formulated questionnaire. Hearing impairment, raised blood pressure, headaches, disturbed sleep, and symptoms of anxiety were more prominent among the exposed workers than the control. Symptoms of upper respiratory tract were reported among night shifters of both groups with high tendency for smoking. Thus, night-shift workers at CIA work under more than one stressor. Hypertension and smoking might act as intermediate factors on the causal pathway of complaints, making aircraft noise and night shift acting as two synergistic stressors. Airport workers are in need for aggressive hearing conservation programs. Organization of the working hours schedule is mandatory to avoid excessive noise exposure.