Nickel-exposed Workers in China: A Cohort Study

There are more than S0 000 workers in Jinchuan Group Co, Ltd （JNMC）. Since all staff in JNMC are eligible for a medical examination every two years, only 23 484 nickel-exposed subjects who participated in medical examination were included in this study. Their data, collected from June 22, 2011 to September 28, 2012, in a comprehensive epidemiological survey and during medical examinations, permitted an extensive evaluation of the relation between metal exposure, gene, epigenetics and risk of human diseases. Their lifestyle investigation showed that the overall prevalence of current smokers, alcohol drinkers, and tea drinkers was 39.1%, 19.7%, and 55.2%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension, allergic rhinitis and cholecystitis, the top 3 prevalent diseases, was 11.7%, 11.0%, and 8.9%, respectively.

Effects of Outdoor Temperature on Blood Pressure in a Prospective Cohort of Northwest China

Objective The relationship between outdoor temperature and blood pressure(BP) has been inconclusive. We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study in northwestern China to investigate the effect of outdoor temperature on BP and effect modification by season.Methods A total of 32,710 individuals who participated in both the baseline survey and the first follow-up in 2011–2015 were included in the study. A linear mixed-effect model and generalized additive mixed model(GAMM) were applied to estimate the association between outdoor temperature and BP after adjusting for confounding variables.Results The mean differences in systolic blood pressure(SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP)between summer and winter were 3.5 mm Hg and 2.75 mm Hg, respectively. After adjusting for individual characteristics, meteorological factors and air pollutants, a significant increase in SBP and DBP was observed for lag 06 day and lag 04 day, a 0.28 mm Hg(95% CI: 0.27–0.30) per 1 °C decrease in average temperature for SBP and a 0.16 mm Hg(95% CI: 0.15–0.17) per 1 °C decrease in average temperature for DBP, respectively. The effects of the average temperature on both SBP and DBP were stronger in summer than in other seasons. The effects of the average temperature on BP were also greater if individuals were older, male, overweight or obese, a smoker or drinker, or had cardiovascular diseases(CVDs), hypertension, and diabetes.Conclusions This study demonstrated a significant negative association between outdoor temperature and BP in a high-altitude environment of northwest China. Moreover, BP showed a significant seasonal variation. The association between BP and temperature differed by season and individuals' demographic characteristics(age, gender, BMI), unhealthy behaviors(smoking and alcohol consumption), and chronic disease status(CVDs, hypertension, and diabetes).

Trend Analysis of Cancer Mortality in the Jinchang Cohort, China,2001-2010

Objective To describe the baseline data of cancers in the Jinchang Cohort, this paper examined trends in cancer mortality among adults investigated in Jinchang, Gansu province from 2001 to 2010. Methods Mortality data were collected from company departments through administrative documents, death certificates, etc. Trend analyses of cancer mortality were performed on the basis of 925 cancer deaths between 2001 and 2010. Results The crude mortality rate of cancer continuously increased from 161.86 per 100,000 in 2001 to 315.32 per 100,000 in 2010, with an average increase of 7.69% per year in the Jinchang Cohort （16.41% in females compared to 6.04% in males）, but the age-standardized mortality rate increased only in females. Thirteen leading cancers accounted for 92.10% of all cancer deaths. The five leading causes of cancer mortality in males were lung, gastric, liver, esophageal, and colorectal cancer, whereas those in females were lung, liver, gastric, breast, and esophageal cancer. Conclusion The overall cancer mortality rate increased from 2001 to 2010 in the Jinchang Cohort, with greater rate of increase in females than in males. Lung, breast, and gastric cancer, in that order, were the leading causes of increased cancer mortality in females.

Metal Exposure and Risk of Diabetes and Prediabetes among Chinese Occupational Workers

Objective To study the association between metal exposure and risk of diabetes and prediabetes among Chinese workers exposed to metals.Methods We used data obtained from the baseline survey of the Jinchang Cohort Study of workers in Jinchang Industry,the largest nickel production company in China.A total of 42,122 workers ≥20 years of age were included in the study.A standardized,structured questionnaire was used to collect epidemiological information.Physical examinations and laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the health status of the participants and to measure various biomarkers including blood sugar,lipids,and urinary metal concentrations.Logistic regression was used to study the association between occupational groups categorized according to the measured metal levels(office workers,low-level;mining/production workers,mid-level;and smelting/refining workers,high-level)and risk of diabetes and prediabetes.Results The overall prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was 7.5% and 16.8%,respectively.The adjusted odds ratios for diabetes among mining/production workers and smelting/refining workers compared to office workers were 1.5(95% CI:1.3,1.7)and 3.8(95% CI:3.4,4.3),respectively.No association was observed between these occupational groups and prediabetes in this study.Conclusion Occupations associated with higher levels of metal exposure were associated with an increased risk of diabetes in this cohort.More studies are needed to confirm this observed association.

A Retrospective Cohort Mortality Study in Jinchang,the Largest Nickel Production Enterprise in China

Nickel is an essential trace metal used in the occupational setting, resulting in both occupational and nonoccupational exposures to individuals at varying levels. Exposure to nickel has been associated with several toxicities and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that there is sufficient evidence in humans associating exposure to nickel compounds with risk of lung cancer and sinonasal cancer. This study confirmed a significant excess of mortality from diseases of the lung including silicosis, lung cancer, and cor pulmonale among workers involved in nickel mining or smelting in China.

Dynamic Changes in DNA Damage and Repair Biomarkers with Employment Length among Nickel Smelting Workers

Our study explored the dynamic changes in andthe relationship between the DNA damage marker8-hydroxy-2＇-deoxyguanosine （8-OHdG） and theDNA repair marker 8-hydroxyguanine DNAglycosidase 1 （hOGG1） according to the length ofoccupational employment in nickel smeltingworkers. One hundred forty nickel-exposedsmelting workers and 140 age-matched unexposedoffice workers were selected from the Jinchangcohort. The 8-OHdG levels in smelting workers wassignificantly higher than in office workers （Z=-8.688,P〈0.05） and the 8-OHdG levels among nickelsmelting workers in the 10-14 y employment lengthcategory was significantly higher than among allpeers. The hOGG1 levels among smelting workerswere significantly lower than those of non-exposedworkers （Z=-8.948, P〈0.05）. There were significantdifferences between employment length andhOGG1 levels, with subjects employed in nickelsmelting for 10-14 y showing the highest levels ofhOGG1. Correlation analysis showed positivecorrelations between 8-OHdG and hOGG1 levels（r=0.413; P〈0.01）. DNA damage was increased withemployment length among nickel smelting workersand was related to the inhibition of hOGG1 repaircapacity.

Estimation Study of New Cancer Cases and Deaths in Wuwei, Hexi Corridor Region, China, 2018

Population-based cancer registration data were collected to estimate the cancer incidence and mortality in Wuwei, Hexi Corridor Region, China in 2018. We used the 2011-2013 data to predict the number of new cases and deaths in 2018 and the 2003-2013 data to analyze trends in cancer incidence and mortality. The goal is to enable cancer prevention and control directions. Our results indicated that stomach cancer is the most common cancer. For all cancers combined, the incidence and mortality rates showed significantly increasing trends（＋2.63% per year; P 〈 0.05 and ＋1.9% per year; P 〈 0.05）. This study revealed a significant cancer burden among the population of this area. Cancer screening and prevention should be performed after an epidemiological study of the cause of the cancer is completed.

The Combined Effect of Dyslipidemia on the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes:A Prospective Cohort Study in Northwest of China

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a major noncommunicable chronic disease in the population and is a major threat to global public health.According to the International Diabetes Federation[1],there were at least 463 million patients with diabetes between the ages of 20 and 79 in 2019,and this number will rise to 700 million by 2045.Dyslipidemia is the most important factor that influences T2DM.At present,cross-sectional studies are mainly used to determine the correlation between single lipid index,lipid ratio,and T2DM and its complications[2].Few studies have focused on dyslipidemia and its aggregation patterns in relation to T2DM.

Sex-specific and Dose-response Relationship between the Incidence of Gallstones and Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Jinchang Cohort:A Prospective Study

Gallstones is a very common gastrointestinal disease,involving the formation of masses in the gall bladder or biliary tract,due to abnormally high concentrations of cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile[1].There is a 10%–20%prevalence of gallstones worldwide,and>20%of patients with gallstones show clinical symptoms,implying a substantial disease burden[1].

Heavy Metal Assessment among Chinese Nonferrous Metal-exposed Workers from the Jinchang Cohort Study

Environmental exposure to heavy metals has been linked to a wide range of human health hazards. We detected the levels of 15 metals in urine samples from 500 representative sub-samples in an ongoing occupational cohort study （Jinchang Cohort） to directly evaluate metal exposure levels. Fifteen metals, namely As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cs, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, TI, U, and Zn, were detected by inductively coupled plasma quadruple mass spectrometry. The results showed that median creatinine adjustment and geometric mean urinary metal levels were higher in the heavy metal-exposed group, except Se and Zn, than other reported general or occupational populations. Further studies should address the effects of heavy metals on human health.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Chinese Nickel-exposed Workers

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome （MS） was investigated in Chinese nickel-exposed workers. A total of 35 104 subjects were enrolled in this study. The age-adjusted prevalence of MS, BMI≥25, diabetes, hypertension, and abnormal lipid was 13.9%, 29.5%, 12.8%, 27.5%, and 47.1%, respectively. The prevalence of BMI≥25, hyperglycemia, and hypertension increased with the age of males and females, and was higher in males than in females （37.1% vs 21.5%, 15.9% vs 12.1%, 35.0% vs 24.3%, 54.3% vs 40.4%）.

The Mechanism of Acute Lung Injury Induced by Nickel Carbonyl in Rats

Nickel carbonyl is a highly toxic metal compound produced from the reaction that occurs between nickel and carbon monoxide under pressure. As previously reported, nickel carbonyl can cause acute aspiration pneumonia, and animal experiments showed it was toxic to animal lung, liver, brain, and other vital organs[1]. However, few studies have investigated nickel carbonyl poisoning in humans.