Zinc Toxicity among Galvanization Workers in the Iron and Steel Industry
Zinc Toxicity among Galvanization Workers in the Iron and Steel Industry
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DOI：
10.1196/annals.1454.007
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发表时间：
2008-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Maksoud, Neveen Abdel
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
El Safty, Amal;El Mahgoub, Khalid;Maksoud, Neveen Abdel
镀锌是用锌涂覆钢或铸铁件的过程，可以完全防止腐蚀。这项工作的最终目标是评估在镀锌过程中职业暴露于锌对人体中不同金属的影响，并检测锌暴露与其对呼吸系统的影响之间的关联。这项研究是在钢铁行业的一家主要公司的111名受试者中进行的。有61名受试者（工人）参与了电镀过程。从公司的其他部门中选出50名成年男子作为匹配的参照组。所有工人进行了采访，使用一个特殊的问卷调查职业史和胸部疾病。对所有受检工人进行通气功能和胸部X线检查。此外，全血细胞计数进行，血清锌，铁，铜，钙，镁水平进行了测试。本研究阐明了锌暴露与锌暴露工人的高锌水平之间的关系，高锌水平与金属烟雾热（MFF）的高患病率和低血铜和钙水平有关。暴露组和对照组之间的镁水平无统计学显著差异。未发现金属接触对工人的呼吸功能和胸部X线有长期影响。
Galvanization is the process of coating steel or cast iron pieces with zinc, allowing complete protection against corrosion. The ultimate goal of this work was to assess the effect of occupational exposure to zinc in the galvanization process on different metals in the human body and to detect the association between zinc exposure and its effect on the respiratory system. This study was conducted in 111 subjects in one of the major companies in the iron and steel industry. There were 61 subjects (workers) who were involved in the galvanization process. Fifty adult men were chosen as a matched reference group from other departments of the company. All workers were interviewed using a special questionnaire on occupational history and chest diseases. Ventilatory functions and chest X rays were assessed in all examined workers. Also, complete blood counts were performed, and serum zinc, iron, copper, calcium, and magnesium levels were tested. This study illustrated the relation between zinc exposure in the galvanization process and high zinc levels among exposed workers, which was associated with a high prevalence rate of metal fume fever (MFF) and low blood copper and calcium levels. There was no statistically significant difference between the exposed and control groups with regards to the magnesium level. No long-term effect of metals exposure was detected on ventilatory functions or chest X rays among the exposed workers.