Evaluation of the impacts of occupational exposure to PM and PAH on cardiovascular problems in wastewater treatment plant workers

Hussein, Amal Saad; Beshir, Safia; Shaheen, Weam; Saleh, Inas Ali; Hafez, Salwa Farouk; Mohammed, Atef Mohamed Fathy

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2024.301062.9937

Evaluation of the impacts of occupational exposure to PM and PAH on cardiovascular problems in wastewater treatment plant workers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Professor of Environmental Health & Preventive Medicine - Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department-National Research Centre.

² Professor of Environmental Health and clinical pathology. Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department- Division of Environmental Research- National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

³ Professor of environmental health, Environmental and Occupational medicine department, NRC

⁴ Air Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

⁵ Environmental and Occupational department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

⁶ Air pollution department Environmental division National research centre

10.21608/ejchem.2024.301062.9937

Abstract

Introduction: Workers in wastewater treatment plant (WWTPs) are at high risk to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to estimate concentrations of 16 EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particulate matters (PM) in WWTP workplace, to evaluate the potential risk of developing CVDs in the workers, and to identify the risky work tasks. Methodology: PM, and individual PAHs were measured. A cross-sectional study was done on 142 WWTP workers. All participants were subjected to questionnaire, electrocardiogram (ECG), measuring of blood pressure, serum APO-A, APO-B, APO-E, and Lipoprotein α (Lpα). Results: Annual mean concentrations of PM were lower than the Egyptian limit. EPA 16 PAHs were detected in all samples, lower molecular weight PAHs were the most predominant PAHs. The most predominant wind direction of the selected WWPT is placed downwind to the surrounding areas. About 50% of the workers were complaining of dyspnea. 30.9% were hypertensive. Ventricular extra systole was the most prevalent ECG abnormality followed by left ventricular enlargement. APO-B and APO-B/APO-A ratios were significantly higher in operator workers compared to the administrators and laboratory workers. Meanwhile, APO-E was significantly lower among operator workers than administrators and laboratory workers. Conclusion: PM and PAH exposure may be associated with the potential risk of developing CVDs in WWTP workers. PAHs in the WWTP could be from fuel used for the machines in the operator department, but the most contributed sources were from the surrounding areas. APO-B or APO-B/APO-A holds promising biomarkers for evaluating CVDs risk, the potentially risky task was operation.

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