Abstract
The United States has a rich history of mining including uranium (U)-mining, coal mining, and other metal mining. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are largely understudied in miners and recent literature suggests that when compared to non-U miners, U-miners are more likely to report CVD. However, the molecular basis for this phenomenon is currently unknown. In this pilot study, a New Mexico (NM)-based occupational cohort of current and former miners (n = 44) were recruited via a mobile screening clinic for miners. Serum- and endothelial-based endpoints were used to assess circulating inflammatory potential relevant to CVD. Non-U miners reported significantly fewer pack years of smoking than U-miners. Circulating biomarkers of interest revealed that U-miners had significantly greater serum amyloid A (SAA), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1, ng/mL), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1, ng/mL), and VCAM-1 mRNA expression, as determined by the serum cumulative inflammatory potential (SCIP) assay, an endothelial-based assay. Even after adjusting for various covariates, including age, multivariable analysis determined that U-miners had significantly upregulated VCAM-1 mRNA. In conclusion, VCAM-1 may be an important biomarker and possible contributor of CVD in U-miners. Further research to explore this mechanism may be warranted.
Highlights
Mining demonstrates significant risks for long-term health effects
Uranium miners were significantly older than non-U miners (p = 0.04) and had significantly more pack years of smoking (p < 0.01) (Table 2)
U-miners weighed significantly more than non-U miners (p = 0.02); body mass index (BMI) did not demonstrate any significant difference
Summary
Mining demonstrates significant risks for long-term health effects. Chronic health conditions such as lung diseases [1,2,3] and to a lesser extent, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), may impact uranium (U) miners [4,5,6]. U-ore have been investigated with respect to CVD, but results are conflicting. U-miners exhibited an increase in self-reported angina compared to non-U miners, despite having lower body mass index (BMI), lower nicotine use, and lower duration of mining tenure than non-U miners [8]. In a study of French U-miners, CVD death rates were higher among U-miners, with a significantly higher risk of cerebrovascular mortality [9,10]. Other cohort studies have determined no evidence in U-miner mortality from
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