Examining the perspectives of textile workers on organ donation and related factors

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to examine the perspectives of textile workers on organ donation and related factors.

METHOD

The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of employees of a textile factory located in eastern Turkey (n = 166). The data were collected using the forms Personal Information and determining Knowledge, Awareness, and Willingness regarding Organ Donation and Transplantation. Data collection forms were prepared by researchers based on the literature and taking expert opinion. In the analysis of the study data, number-percentage, chi-square test and Cramér's phi correlation analysis were used.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 21.10 ± 2.53, and the numbers of men and women were equal. It was determined that 63.3% of the participants needed education related to organ donation, and 57.8% were willing to donate their organs. There is a correlation the high levels of knowledge, awareness, and willingness regarding organ donation and transplantation with the participant's levels of thinking about donating their organs.

CONCLUSION

Our results supported the view that high levels of knowledge and awareness increased willingness about organ donation. In increasing the number of organ donors, high levels of knowledge and awareness are highly important, all parts of society should be provided with education on this issue, and it should be considered that workers of all sectors, especially textile workers, constitute a significant proportion of most societies in terms of numbers.

Association of heat shock protein70-2 genotypes with hypertension among textile workers occupationally exposed to noise

Noise exposure is a primary cause of hearing loss with a broad range of auditory and non-auditory effects. It is one of the occupational health risks in both developed and industrialized countries. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are induced after severe noise exposure. Those proteins protect the ear from damage following excessive noise exposure. This protection showed high variability between individuals. The aim of the study was to investigate the variation in hearing loss and blood pressure in textile workers and its association with genetic predisposition related to HSP70 genes. Also, the role of smoking was studied. We genotyped HSP-70 (hsp70-1, hsp70-2, and hsp70-hom) genes in 109 textile workers working in a noisy environment. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure was measured for workers. Hearing was assessed using an audiogram. We reported significant variation in HSP70-homo genotypes among smoker workers and nonsmoker ones. Only HSP70-2 genotypes were associated with high significant variations in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among textile workers. Positive correlation between duration of exposure and both systolic (P < 0.047) and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.033) was observed among workers. Our study recorded that HSP70-2 genotypes were associated with hypertension among textile workers with absence of that association with either HSP70-1 or HSP70-homo genotypes. We also confirmed the relationship between noise exposure and blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Furthermore, significant variation was shown in HSP70-hom genotypes among smoker and nonsmoker workers.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss among an Occupational Group of Textile Workers in Karachi, Pakistan

A cross sectional survey was conducted among textile workers of six textile factories of different industrial areas of Karachi to determine the frequency of hearing loss. A total of 264 workers were assessed for frequency of hearing loss with audiometric and otoscopic examination conducted by audiologist. About 79% workers had hearing impairment on audiometric assessment having hearing loss ≥25 dB. Of these, 19% of the workers had conductive deafness while 71% had mixed hearing loss. Otoscopic examination revealed that 38% had wax, 41.8 % had ear discharge and 1.6 % had perforation. The multiple logistic regression model shows sound level more than 25 dB aOR: 1.15; 95%CI: 1.10, 1.30 and ear discharge aOR: 2.23; 95%CI: 1.27, 3.92, was found as a strong risk factor of hearing loss (p<0.05). Hearing impairment affects a large proportion of the workers in Pakistan. There is a need for screening of workers exposed to occupational noise. Efforts should be made by the health care system to prevent the problem from an early stage and require effective management of ear-related diseases.

Effects of Hyperlipidemia on Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

Likelihood of developing noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is affected by some factors such as genes, nutrition and healthy hearing habits. We investigated this study to determine the effect of hyperlipidemia on NIHL. In a case-control study, 144 workers who exposed to continuous noise more than 85 dBA (88-89 dBA) from a textile factory in Tehran were examined. Serum Blood test results as index for dyslipidemi, were collected and audiometry tests were carried out to analyze the association of hyperlipidemian and NIHL. The mean ±SD of Cholesterol level for NIHL and control were 188.19 (28.46) and 159.00 (26.66) mg/dL respectively. Also the mean ±SD of Triglyceride level for NIHL and control were 203.75 (53.92) and 105.00 (30.50) mg/dL consecutively. After adjusting odds ratio (OR) for NIHL, only hypertriglyceridemia had association with NIHL. (aOR = 1.07; 95 % CI 1.04-1.10), and there wasn't any relation between hypercholestomia and NIHL (aOR = 1.02; 95 % CI 0.99-1.05). Workers with hypertriglyceridemia are at increased risk for NIHL. In factories with elevated noise levels, besides hearing conservation programs, attention to blood serum level of workers and healthy diet are proposed to help in preserving hearing threshold.

Exposure-specific lung cancer risks in Chinese chrysotile textile workers and mining workers

OBJECTIVE

Whether there is a difference in the exposure-response slope for lung cancer between mining workers and textile workers exposed to chrysotile has not been well documented. This study was carried out to evaluate exposure-specific lung cancer risks in Chinese chrysotile textile workers and mining workers.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A chrysotile mining worker cohort and a chrysotile textile worker cohort were observed concurrently for 26 years. Information on workers' vital status, occupational history and smoking habits were collected, and causes and dates of deaths were verified from death registries. Individual cumulative fiber exposures were estimated based on periodic dust/fiber measurements from different workshops, job title and duration, and categorized into four levels (Q1-Q4). Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for lung cancer were calculated and stratified by industry and job title with reference of the national rates. Cox proportional hazard models were fit to estimate the exposure-specific lung cancer risks upon adjustment for age and smoking, in which an external control cohort consisting of industrial workers without asbestos exposure was used as reference group for both textile and mining workers.

RESULTS

SMRs were almost consistent with exposure levels in terms of job titles and workshops. A clear exposure-response relationship between lung cancer mortality and exposure levels was observed in both cohorts. At low exposure levels (Q1 and Q2), textile workers displayed higher death risks of lung cancer than mining workers. However, similarly considerably high risks were observed at higher exposure levels, with hazard ratios of over 8 and 11 at Q3 and Q4, respectively, for both textile and mining workers, after both age and smoking were adjusted.

CONCLUSION

The chrysotile textile workers appeared to have a higher risk of lung cancer than the mining workers at a relatively low exposure level, but no difference was observed at a high exposure level, where both cohorts displayed a considerably high risk.