Association between exposure to metalworking fluid aerosols, occupational noise and chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study in China

• Published in: BMC public health Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 1 - 1495
• Main Authors: Zhou, Li, Wu, Beining, Tang, Minzhu, Li, Geyang, Chan, Weiling, Song, Lin, Wang, Jin, Zhu, Lejia, Lin, Lan, Lian, Yulong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 04.06.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aerosols; Background noise; Cardiovascular disease; Care and treatment; Chronic kidney failure; CKD; Creatinine; Cross-sectional studies; Curve fitting; Diagnosis; Employees; Hazardous materials; Interaction; Kidney diseases; Kidneys; Machining; Management; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Metabolism; Metal products industry; Metalworking fluid aerosols; Metalworking fluids; Metalworking machinery; Mortality; Noise; Noise control; Noise levels; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Occupational health and safety; Occupational noise exposure; Occupational safety; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression models; Renal function; Safety and security measures; Sample size; Security guards; Statistical analysis; Threshold effect; Workers; Workshops; China
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19006-7

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) carries a high public health burden yet little is known about the relationship between metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols, occupational noise and CKD. We aimed to explore the relationship between occupational MWF aerosols, occupational noise and CKD. Methods A total of 2,738 machinists were sampled from three machining companies in Wuxi, China, in 2022. We used the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 5524 to collect individual samples for MWF aerosols exposure, and the Chinese national standard (GBZ/T 189.8-2007) method to test individual occupational noise exposure. The diagnostic criteria for CKD were urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) of [greater than or equal to] 30 mg/g and reduced renal function (eGFR < 60 mL.min.sup.- 1. 1.73 m.sup.- 2) lasting longer than 3 months. Smooth curve fitting was conducted to analyze the associations of MWF aerosols and occupational noise with CKD. A segmented regression model was used to analyze the threshold effects. Results Workers exposed to MWF aerosols (odds ratio [OR] = 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-3.41) and occupational noise (OR = 1.77, 95%CI: 1.06-2.96) had higher prevalence of CKD than nonexposed workers. A nonlinear and positive association was found between increasing MWF aerosols and occupational noise dose and the risk of CKD. When daily cumulative exposure dose of MWF aerosols exceeded 8.03 mg/m.sup.3, the OR was 1.24 (95%CI: 1.03-1.58), and when occupational noise exceeded 87.22 dB(A), the OR was 1.16 (95%CI: 1.04-1.20). In the interactive analysis between MWF aerosols and occupational noise, the workers exposed to both MWF aerosols (cumulative exposure [greater than or equal to] 8.03 mg/m.sup.3-day) and occupational noise (L.sub.EX,8 h [greater than or equal to] 87.22 dB(A)) had an increased prevalence of CKD (OR = 2.71, 95%CI: 1.48-4.96). MWF aerosols and occupational noise had a positive interaction in prevalence of CKD. Conclusions Occupational MWF aerosols and noise were positively and nonlinearly associated with CKD, and cumulative MWF aerosols and noise exposure showed a positive interaction with CKD. These findings emphasize the importance of assessing kidney function of workers exposed to MWF aerosols and occupational noise. Prospective and longitudinal cohort studies are necessary to elucidate the causality of these associations. Keywords: Metalworking fluid aerosols, Occupational noise exposure, CKD, Interaction, Threshold effect