Project 2: Parkinsonism and Metal Exposures Among Welders

项目2将是UW SBRP的新项目，是一项流行病学调查，研究金属在专业焊工中作为帕金森病（PS）风险、严重程度和进展的决定因素。先前的流行病学和实验研究已经证明了锰（Mn）和其他金属（单独或组合）与PS之间非常可信的联系。研究对象包括875名威斯康星州造船厂焊工（775名在职，100名退休）和200名未暴露的造船厂焊工

Project 2, which will be new to the UW SBRP, is an epidemiologic investigation of the roles of metals as determinants of the risk, severity, and progression of parkinsonism (PS) among professional welders. Previous epidemiologic and experimental research has demonstrated very plausible links between manganese (Mn) and other metals, individually and in combination, and PS. The study population includes 875 Wisconsin shipyard welders (775 actively employed, 100 retired) and 200 non-exposed shipyard workers with no welding exposure history previously enrolled in an ongoing NEIHS-funded R01 (ES013743; PI: B. Racette; Co-investigators: H. Checkoway, N. Seixas). The new features of this proposed study will be the refinement of exposure assessment to generate quantitative metal-specific levels, and repeated neurological examinations of longitudinal change of PS-related motor function. The scientific objectives of the project are to: 1) estimate dose-response relations between Mn and other metal exposures and PS risk and severity; 2) test the hypothesis that these metal exposures are associated with PS progression; 3) determine the predictive relations of PS proteomic biomarkers, characterized in Project 3 (Dr. Zhang), with PS risk, severity, and progression; 4) test dose-response relations for Mn and other metals with PS proteomic biomarker profiles as indicators of preclinical disease. To achieve these objects, we will perform repeated standardized neurological exams of motor function (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Motor Subsection 3 [UPDRS3]) 3 years after enrollment exams for as many study subjects as can be enrolled (~75%). Addionally, in collaboration with Project 3, we will collect plasma samples for assays of proteomics that have been validated as strongly associated with PS for a sample of 150 subjects selected according to baseline UPDRS3 ('normal', borderline PS, probable/definite PS). Data on potentially important confounding factors, especially cigarette smoking and pesticide exposure, will be obtained by questionnaire. This project has great potential to quantify the extent of neurological effects of metals, which are widespread environmental contaminants, and thus could contribute to disease prevention strategies.