Haematological and Biochemical Parameters in an Industrial Workforce

Abstract

Biochemical and haematological data for two consecutive years are presented on about 2000 people from the workforce of a large chemical company. The data are examined for the influence of sex, age, season, time of blood sampling, and patterns of work on the various indices. In addition to the results confirming previously published work relating to the effects of age and sex, they provide interesting new information on the possible influences of seasons and patterns of work, that is, whether the subjects were shift or day workers. Further studies on the influence of these various factors are required, and our on-going survey will perhaps provide more definite data in due course. The findings show the importance of quantifying these variables, particularly in an industrial workforce where minor changes may be of significance.

Seasonal Variations in Haematological and Biochemical Parameters

“…1 The present work on men confirms the influence of age but also introduces and attempts to quantify seasonal variations which we have observed.…”

“…1 As part of an annual medical examination offered to each member of the workforce, blood samples were taken for haematological and biochemical analysis for five consecutive years, 1979-83. When undertaking the screening of our workforce the aims were to provide early evidence of target organ damage following exposure to substances known to be potentially toxic and to monitor workers being exposed to new substances for early evidence of any toxic effects.…”

Seasonal modulation of the circadian time structure of circulating T and natural killer lymphocyte subsets from healthy subjects.

“…Nonetheless, no circannual rhythm in morning values of total leukocytes or lymphocytes has been found by others (7,19). In a recent study, large seasonal variations in morning total leukocyte count were found in young men, but not in men older than 40 yr (37). A reproducible circannual rhythm in the count of circulating B lymphocytes was documented in a healthy young Japanese subject sampled monthly between 9:00 and 1 1:00 h for 2 consecutive yr, with a peak in August (summer) and a nadir in January (winter) (5).…”

Zinc supplementation has no effect on circulating levels of peripheral blood leucocytes and lymphocyte subsets in healthy adult men

“…Several groups have observed significant seasonal differences in total number of peripheral blood leucocytes with peaks occurring in winter and troughs in summer (Reinberg et al 1980;Gidlow et al 1983;Reinberg & Smolensky, 1983). These findings are in contrast with results from the present study which observed reductions in circulating levels of lymphocyte subsets in winter.…”