Abstract
BackgroundOver exposure to manganese (Mn) can damage the human central nervous system and potentially cause liver toxicity. Alcohol drinking is also one of the well-known harmful factors to hepatic organism. The interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption to liver function was investigated in this study.MethodsA total of 1112 on-the-spot workers were included in the cross-sectional survey from a large scale of manganese exposed workers healthy cohort (MEWHC) in a ferro-manganese refinery company. A questionnaire was used to collect the demographic information, occupational history, and alcohol drinking habits. Occupational health examination was carried out for each worker. The five key serum indices, including total bilirubin (TBILI), direct bilirubin (DBILI), indirect bilirubin (IBILI), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), were determined to evaluate the liver function of each subject.ResultsWorkers exposed to high levels of Mn had significantly elevated serum concentrations of liver enzymes (DBILI: 3.84±1.20 μmol/L, ALT: 27.04±19.12 IU/L, and AST: 29.96±16.68 IU/L), when compared to those in the low-exposure group (DBIL: 3.54±0.85 μmol/L, ALT: 20.38±10.97 IU/L, and AST: 26.39±8.07 IU/L), all P<0.01. These serum indices had a significantly increasing trend with the elevation of Mn exposure level (Ptrend <0.01). In addition, the workers with alcohol drinking also showed higher concentrations of liver enzymes than those non-drinkers, especially, and there was significant interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption in terms of these three indices (P<0.001).ConclusionsOccupational exposure to Mn can lead to a dose-dependent increase of liver enzyme concentrations, and interact with alcohol drinking to potentially aggravate the liver damage. It will be important for Mn exposed workers to control drinking and also assess liver function in the occupational health examination.
Highlights
Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element for humans, but long-term occupational exposure to Mn including the manufacturing of batteries and ferroalloy, smelting, welding, and mining, mainly leaded to health damage of central nervous system and lungs [1,2]
Manganism and hepatic encephalopathy were the most common pathologies associated with the effects of Mn exposure [7]
Results of occupational health examination After comprehensive occupation health examination for all workers in the cohort, none was diagnosed as occupational manganism, but some workers complained of insomnia, dizziness, cough, joint pain, and decreased vision with high reported rate
Summary
Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element for humans, but long-term occupational exposure to Mn including the manufacturing of batteries and ferroalloy, smelting, welding, and mining, mainly leaded to health damage of central nervous system and lungs [1,2]. Manganism and hepatic encephalopathy were the most common pathologies associated with the effects of Mn exposure [7]. The accumulation of Mn in the mitochondria of brain was associated with neurological symptoms of manganism in vivo [8,9]. Liver is rich of mitochondria, which is obviously the target organ of Mn accumulation. Over exposure to manganese (Mn) can damage the human central nervous system and potentially cause liver toxicity. The interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption to liver function was investigated in this study
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