Occupational exposure assessment to chromium using a job-exposure matrix based approach based on biomonitoring data
Makaleler > Özet · 2020
Yazarlar: Zehra Nur TÖREYİN, LODE GODDERIS
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, SCI Expanded İndekslerine Giren Dergi, Uluslararası, 2020, cilt 56, ss 2-3
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2020.3170
Özet
<p>There is a well-established risk between exposure to hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) and lung cancer, yet Cr(VI) is widely used in industrial settings. Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) is an epidemiological tool providing occupational exposure inferences by using job titles. Biological measurements from workers were often utilized in a JEM to obtain auxiliary information on exposure; however, direct use of this type of data is hardly available. Our aim was to establish an empirical statistical model for the assessment of chromium exposure in workers, by using historical biomonitoring data and expert-based exposure assessment. A dataset that comprised of total chromium levels in urine of workers from several workplaces and another dataset including expert knowledge based evaluations on exposure situations were obtained from an external occupational safety and health company in Belgium. Two types of data sources were combined by using linear mixed effect model through restricted maximum likelihood approach in which expert based scores were defined as a priori. 174 job-specific exposure data for 2138 measurements, covering the years from 1998 to 2018 is summarized in JEM database. There was a time-trend of 30% decrease in total chromium levels. According to observed and model predicted geometric mean levels, "sheet and structural metal workers, moulders, welders", "electronic and telecommunication installers and workers", "blacksmith and related trades workers" were found to have highest exposure (Respectively; 3.75, 2.54, 2.55 µg/l and 3.70, 2.79, 2.16µg/l). Use of biomonitoring data is expected to increase validity of our estimates.</p>