The association of occupational metals exposure and oxidative damage, telomere shortening in fitness equipments manufacturing workers

• Published in: Industrial Health Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 345 - 353
• Main Authors: KO, Jiunn-Liang, CHENG, Yu-Jung, LIU, Guan-Cen, HSIN, I-Lun, CHEN, Hsiu-Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 2017; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH)
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Bioassays; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Cancer; Carcinogens; Cardiovascular diseases; Chemical properties; Chromium; Chromosomes; Comet assay; Damage assessment; Damage detection; Degassing of metals; DNA Damage; Exercise equipment; Exercise equipment industry; Exposure; Female; Fitness; Fitness equipment; Fumes; Health aspects; Humans; Industrial engineering; Industrial plants; Male; Malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - blood; Manufacturing; Manufacturing engineering; Manufacturing industry; Materials; MDA; Metal concentrations; Metal workers; Metals; Metals, Heavy - blood; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational health; Occupational health and safety; Original; Oxidative damage; Oxidative Stress; Risk factors; Sporting goods; Taiwan - epidemiology; Telomere length; Telomere Shortening; Telomeres; Toxicity; Welding; Welding fumes; Welding machines; Taiwan; MDA; Telomere length; Welding; Oxidative damage; Metals
• ISSN: 0019-8366; 1880-8026
• DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2016-0148

The welding is the major working process in fitness equipment manufacturing industry, and International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified welding fumes as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The present study aimed to evaluate associations between the occupational exposure of metals and oxidative damage and telomere length shortening in workers involved in the manufacture of fitness equipment. The blood metal concentrations were monitored and malondialdehyde (MDA), alkaline Comet assay was determined as oxidative damage in 117 workers from two representative fitness equipment manufacturing plants. MDA levels varied according to workers' roles at the manufacturing plants, and showed a trend as cutting>painting>welding>administration workers. Welders had marginally shorter average telomere lengths than the administrative workers (p=0.058). Cr and Mn levels were significantly greater in welders than they were in administrative workers. There were significantly positive correlations between MDA and Cr and Mn levels, the major components of welding fume. However, the association would be eliminated if co-metals exposure were considered simultaneously. In future, telomere length and MDA might be potential biomarkers for predicting cardiovascular disease in co-metals exposed workers.