Risk of high blood pressure in salt workers working near salt milling plants: a cross-sectional and interventional study

Health Consequences of Lake Urmia in Crisis in the Disaster Area: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the health effects of Lake Urmia's drought on adjacent urban and rural areas and people.

METHODS

The data for sociodemographic status, physical activity, dietary pattern, smoking, and angina of the subjects living in areas adjacent to and far from Lake Urmia were collected through validated questionnaires. Physical examinations, including blood pressure, anthropometrics, and biochemical measurements, were performed.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between 2 areas in the case of age, sex, educational, and physical activity and smoking status (P > 0.05). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, and anemia in cases living in the adjacent areas were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between 2 districts in the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, overweight/obesity, asthma, angina, infraction, diabetes, and vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data showed that Lake Urmia's drought has serious effects on hypertension and anemia. More longitudinal and well-designed studies are needed to confirm these results.

Health Profile of Construction Workers in Hong Kong

Construction is a manual, heavy, and complex sector concerning the most fatal accidents and high incidence of occupational illnesses and injuries resulting in days away from work. In Hong Kong, "Pilot Medical Examination Scheme for Construction Workers" was launched in 2014 to detect the health problems of their construction workforce. All registered workers under the Construction Workers Registration Board are eligible to join the scheme. The purpose of this paper is to assess the physical condition, physiological status, and musculoskeletal disorders of 942 construction workers in Hong Kong. This study adopted a two-phase design, which includes a basic medical examination to measure the workers' physiological parameters, such as blood pressure, resting heart rate, glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, liver function test, and renal function test; as well as a face-to-face interview following the medical examination to collect their demographic information and pain experience. Individual characteristics, including gender, age, obesity, alcohol drinking habit, and sleeping habit influenced the health condition of construction workers. Among the participants, 36.1% and 6.5% of them were overweight and obese, respectively. In addition, 43.0%, 38.4%, 16.2%, and 13.9% of the participants exceeded the thresholds of cholesterol, blood pressure, urea nitrogen, and uric urea, correspondingly. Moreover, 41.0% of the participants suffered musculoskeletal pain, where the most frequent painful parts occur in the lower back, shoulder, knees, leg, and neck. Through these findings, a series of important issues that need to be addressed is pointed out in terms of maintaining the physical well-being and reducing musculoskeletal disorders of construction workers. The finding may have implications for formulating proper intervention strategies for the sustainable development of Hong Kong's construction industry.

Lung health and heart rate variability changes in salt workers

BACKGROUND

India is the third largest salt producing country in the World, with a global annual production of 230 million tonnes. Large number of salt workers get employed in these salt milling plants risking their life from the effects of salt. Recent foreign evidences reported that these salt workers are exposed to aerosol salt particles that disturb their lung and cardiovascular autonomic control.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the status of lung health, cardiovascular autonomic control and biochemical changes in a group of salt industry workers with that of the age-matched normal subjects.

METHODOLOGY

Volunteers of both sexes (25-35 years) were divided into Group I (n=10) controls and Group II (n=10) non-brine salt workers in salt milling plants. From fasting blood sample, complete blood count, plasma electrolyte and lipid profile estimation were done. After resting for 15min, blood pressure and lead II ECG were recorded. Spirometry was done using RMS Helios spirometer. Data collected were later analysed using GraphPad Prism 5.0 with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

RESULTS

Blood pressure recorded showed a slight elevation in the subjects than that in the controls. Significant rise of plasma sodium (141.9±0.4, 138.7±1.0, p<0.008) and chloride (113.9±1.3, 107.7±1.4, p<0.005). Spirometric tests showed mild obstructive airway disease in the subjects with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC significantly lower than the controls (81.11±3.8, 92.0±3.3, p<0.049), (37.4±4.0, 112.8±1.7, p<0.0001), FEF25-75% (123.3±5.6, 101.0±5.6, p<0.01). Heart rate variability parameters also showed statistically significant variation.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to salt aerosols by the workers in the salt industry has shown a little or no impact on the respiratory system, however there are changes in the blood and cardiovascular system, which need to be further studied to understand the long-term influences of salt in this population.

Inclusion of migrants and ethnic minorities in European birth cohort studies-a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Migrant and ethnic minority groups constitute substantial parts of European populations. They frequently experience health disadvantages relative to the respective majority populations. Birth cohort studies can help to disentangle social and biological factors producing these health inequalities over the life course. We investigated whether birth cohorts in European countries (i) assess migration history and ethnicity in the study design; and (ii) use this information in data analyses.

METHODS

A scoping review was performed in which European birth cohort studies were identified using dedicated web-based registries, MEDLINE and EMBASE. Two reviewers systematically assessed all identified birth cohorts and selected those fulfilling defined inclusion criteria (e.g. enrolment after 1980). Publications and websites were screened for information on the inclusion of migrants and ethnic minorities. To obtain more detailed information, researchers of enrolled birth cohorts were contacted individually.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight birth cohorts were identified in 20 European countries, with more than 486 250 children enrolled in total. Sixty-two studies (70.5%) reported collecting data about migration history or ethnic background. Twenty-three studies (26%) used information on migration history or ethnicity for data analyses or plan to do so in future.

CONCLUSION

The majority of European birth cohorts assessed participants' migration history or ethnic background; however, this information was seldom used for comparative analyses in trying to disentangle reasons for health inequalities. Also, heterogeneous indicators were used. Better use of data already available, as well as harmonization of data collection on migration history and ethnicity, could yield interesting insights into the production of health inequalities.

Study of morbidity pattern among salt workers in marakkanam, Tamil Nadu, India

BACKGROUND

Salt workers are exposed to occupational hazards like contact with salt crystals and brine, physical stress, sunlight and glare due to sunlight reflected by salt crystals. Very few studies have documented the morbidity among the salt workers.

AIM

To assess the morbidity pattern among salt workers in Marakkanam, Tamil Nadu, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken in 4 randomly selected salt worker villages. Three hundred thirty one salt workers were reached by a house-to-house survey during April 2010 to March 2011. Demographic data was collected; clinical examination was conducted using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of morbidity before initiating the study. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 11.5. Chi-square test and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to determine the association of morbidity levels with various factors.

RESULTS

Of the 331 salt workers in the study, 58% were females, mean age was 41.9 ± 10.8 y. Eighty seven percent salt workers had some or other morbidity. The observed morbidities include clinical pallor (44.4%), ocular morbidities including cataract, pterygium, conjunctivitis, pingecula and corneal ulcer (42%), caries teeth (41.7%), hypertension (23.3%), underweight (19.3%), goiter (19%), obesity (14.8%) and dermal conditions including dermatitis, thickening of palm and sole, tinea unguum, follicultitis (9.1%). The presence of morbidity did not show any significant association with increase in age, gender, duration of employment or the type of salt work involved with. However, the lower the education level, the higher is the morbidity level among salt workers (OR = 5.23, 95% CI= 2.07 to 13.21).

CONCLUSION

Morbidity among salt workers is high. Intervention programs are needed to alleviate the health problems in the salt workers.

Migration and Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Neo-Migrants and Settled-Migrants in Delhi, India

Understanding the blood pressure (BP) distribution within populations is fundamental to an understanding of the etiology of cardiovascular diseases and to develop effective preventive strategies. This study focuses on whether the BP levels and hypertension prevalence differ between neo-migrants and settled-migrants in the city of Delhi. Data on BP, anthropometry, social variables, and demographic variables were collected from a cross-sectional sample of 226 settled-migrants and 227 neo-migrants. Men possessed significantly higher BP levels than women. Settled-migrants possessed higher BP levels, except diastolic BP in males. The prevalence of hypertension ranges from 15% (neo-migrant women) to 25% (settled-migrant men), with no significant gender differences. Group differences were significant for men. Hypertension was more prevalent in older settled-migrants and younger neo-migrants. Recent migration was found to be a significant contributor to hypertension prevalence. Age contributed significantly to BP variation in both groups except in neo-migrant men. Pulse rate also contributed to systolic BP among neo-migrant women and settled-migrant men. Thus, urban residence and migration to urban areas can be a leading cause of increased prevalence of hypertension. Neo-migrants were subjected to more lifestyle insults and the stress generated during the adjustment process may be contributing to rise of BP even at younger ages.