Association of musculoskeletal disorders and inflammation markers in workers exposed to lead (Pb) from Pb-battery manufacturing plant

Abstract

Background:Lead (Pb) deposits in the skeletal system on chronic exposure and releases to circulation over a period. The musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are associated with enhanced expression of inflammation. The combination of Pb-exposure and MSDs induced inflammation was not attempted.Objective:This study was conducted to examine the association between MSDs and inflammatory markers in workers exposed to Pb from Pb-battery plant.Material and Methods:In a case-control study design, the study enrolled 176 male Pb-exposed workers as study subjects and 80 healthy workers with no occupational exposure to Pb as control subjects. The Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to assess the MSDs. From the blood sample, blood lead level (BLL) and High Sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) were estimated as markers of Pb-exposure and Inflammatory marker respectively. The BLL was estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrometric method and the Hs-CRP by using a diagnostic kit method.Results:Significantly high proportions of MSDs were noted in study subjects as compared to controls. The MSDs identified in the study subjects were at low back (33%) followed by knee (26%), shoulders (16%), neck (14%), ankle/foot (11%), wrist/hand (10%), elbows (8%), upper back (7%), and hips/thighs (5%). The significant association between Pb-exposure and MSDs among study subjects was mainly noted in low back and ankle/foot. Also, significantly high serum Hs-CRP levels were noted among study subjects with ankle/foot MSDs.Conclusion:Pb-exposure and inflammatory markers were significantly associated with lower limbs of MSDs.

Determinación de los niveles de plomo en sangre en trabajadores de fábricas de baterías ubicadas en Guayaquil-Ecuador

“…2021, pp. 1-18 países, tales como Perú 37.70 µg/dL (Ramírez, 2008), Brasil 59.40 µg/dL (Gottesfeld & Pokhrel, 2011), Venezuela 45.80 µg/dL (Gottesfeld & Pokhrel, 2011), India 26.20-36.80 µg/dL (Mishra et al, 2019), Siria 20.50-94.00 µg/dL (Ramadan et al, 2009) y Pakistán 48.67-116.05 µg/dL (Basit et al, 2015). Es importante mencionar que las fábricas de baterías analizadas en este trabajo cuentan con licencia ambiental en Ecuador y cumplen con las medidas de seguridad y salud ocupacional, lo que se refleja como menores niveles de plomo en su personal.…”

“…La industria de las baterías es la mayor consumidora de plomo y se estima que aproximadamente el 80 % de la producción mundial de plomo se utiliza para fabricar las baterías, y aproximadamente el 50 % de esa producción se deriva del reciclaje de las mismas baterías (Gottesfeld & Pokhrel, 2011). La fabricación de baterías de plomo implica preparar óxido de plomo, fundición de rejillas, pegado, corte de placas, formación, carga y ensamblaje; y, para ello, se utilizan productos químicos peligrosos tales como óxido de plomo, plomo esponjoso y ácido sulfúrico (Kalahasthi et al, 2019).…”

Association between Musculoskeletal Pain and Bone Turnover Markers in Long-Term Pb-Exposed Workers

“…It was suggested that the markers of inflammation, cell stress, collagen synthesis, and degradation can serve as predictors for work-related musculoskeletal injury 60 . Ravibabu et al 29 pointed to the association of Pb-exposure with inflammatory markers and MSDs of lower limbs. The current study examined the relationship of Pb-exposure with pain and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system and BTMs.…”

“…Lower limb MSDs were associated with urinary c-telopeptide of collagen II 28 . A recent study also reported that Pb-exposure and inflammatory markers were significantly associated with lower limb MSDs 29 .…”

Assessment of Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Lead-Battery Workers with Long-Term Exposure to Lead

“… 1 Occupational exposure to lead occurs through inhalation and ingestion. Recent studies on lead-battery manufacturing workers have reported high musculoskeletal disorders with markers of inflammation, 2 mucocutaneous changes, 3 oxidative stress, 4 altered serum magnesium fractions, 5 elevated blood lead levels (BLLs), 6 , 7 reticulocytosis, 8 altered genetic polymorphisms of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), 9 impaired biogenic amino acids with neurobehavioral function, 10 genotoxicity, 11 impaired coagulation function, 12 health problems, 13 , 14 male reproductive function, 15 ocular changes, 16 impaired hematological parameters, 17 and altered calcium metabolism by inhibiting the kidney 1-𝛼-hydroxylase enzyme, which is required for 1, 25 dihydroxy-vitamin D 3 synthesis 18 .…”