Changes in hemoglobin level [of agricultural workers] by hours, days and seasons [Japan]

• Published in: JOURNAL OF THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION OF RURAL MEDICINE Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 141 - 145
• Main Authors: Suzuki, E, Miyahara, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION OF RURAL MEDICINE 20.07.1981
• Subjects: ASIA; ASIE; BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS; CATEGORIE PROFESSIONELLE; COMPOSE ORGANIQUE; COMPUESTOS ORGANICOS; EPOCA; ESTACIONES DEL ANO; HAEMOGLOBIN; HEMOGLOBINA; HEMOGLOBINE; JAPAN; JAPON; MEASUREMENT; MEDICION; MESURE; METHODE; METHODS; METODOS; MINUTAGE; OBREROS; OCCUPATIONS; OCUPACIONES; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; OUVRIER; PERIODICIDAD; PERIODICITE; PERIODICITY; PIGMENT; PIGMENTOS; PIGMENTS; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; RITMOS BIOLOGICOS; RYTHME BIOLOGIQUE; SAISON; SEASONS; TEMPS; TIEMPO; TIME; TIMING; WORKERS
• ISSN: 0468-2513; 1349-7421
• DOI: 10.2185/jjrm.30.141

Studies were made of probable errors in measuring hemoglobin levels. The subject of this investigation was inhabitants in Kamigo, Kisakata Town, Yuri-gun, Akita Prefecture. First, in order to find out errors of measurement, the hemoglobin levels of 99 persons were measured. Errors due to the mixture of tissue fluid were not evident. Personal errors due to the difference in the handling of the instrument were scarcely noted. However, when two different types of instrument were used, instrumental errors were found significant with dispersion of 1%. Next, changes in hemoglobin levels were examined. Daytime variations were investigated twice a day (27 persons) and six times a day or once every four hours (15 persons). It was found that the hemoglobin levels are higher in the morning than in the afternoon. Examinations of daily variations were conducted on 30 persons for five days consecutively. The widest range of fluctuations was 2.6 g/dl, the smallest 0.2 g/dl. There was not a single person whose hemoglobin levels remained unchanged. As for seasonal variations, the hemoglobin levels of a total of 53 persons showed a downward tendency in summer and an upward tendency in winter. Thus, it was made clear that the hemoglobin levels change hourly, daily and seasonally. It was also proved that measured values vary depending on types of measuring instrument used. Our studies suggest that dispersion of measured values should be taken into consideration when the degree of anemia is judged based on hemoglobin levels.