Int Arch Occup Environ Health
January 2025
Purpose: Individuals in occupational environments are particularly susceptible to the impacts of pollutants; making it crucial to assess systemic inflammation markers. The study aimed to evaluate the immune response to inflammation through the assessment of a cytokine profile in individuals working in vulnerable conditions exposed to heavy metals.
Methods: A total of 137 adults participated in this study from three work environments: brickyards, waste scavenging and quarries.
Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental xenobiotic; the primary sources of exposure to this metal are artisanal gold mining and the direct production of mercury. In Mexico, artisanal mercury mining continues to be an important activity in different regions of the country. Exposure to mercury vapors releases can have severe health impacts, including immunotoxic effects such as alterations in cytokine profiling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Toxicol Pharmacol
March 2024
The aim of the study was to evaluate renal function in three groups of precarious workers: garbage recyclers (REC), quarry workers (CAN), and brick makers (LAD). Samples of urine and blood were collected to evaluate clinical parameters and the metal levels in urine was measured using ICP-MS. REC group had the highest concentrations of chromium in urine (36.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim is to investigate and describe the health conditions of workers who are employed in precarious work settings in Mexico. Specifically, the study aims to provide insight on the health status of workers who are vulnerable due to the informal nature of their employment. Through the evaluation of three different scenarios of precarious employment (n = 110), including workers in mercury miner (workers A), brick-kilns (workers B), and quarries workers (workers C).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMercury mining is one of the main sources of mercury (Hg) release into the environment, causing serious impacts on human health and the environment. Workers in these mines are employed informally and precariously and therefore lack labor rights such as social security. The objective of the study is to make visible the exposure to environmental contaminants and the health of workers in mercury mines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Pollut Res Int
December 2021
Brick-kilns are polluted environments due to the use of low-quality technologies and fuels, which generates black fumes with a large number of pollutants. The objective of this research was to analyze environmental exposure and biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and respiratory health in brickmakers to assess the baseline state of contamination in a brick-kiln area of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Lead was quantified in soil and particulate matter of 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Glob Health
July 2019
Background: The child labor situation has been associated with precarious job conditions and poor health conditions because children are often exposed to unsafe work environments, stressful psycho-social work conditions, scarce or no access to protective services, and heavy work burdens.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate markers of exposure to benzene through the exposure biomarker trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA), and biomarkers of early renal damage in children who work in sites that are under precarious job conditions.
Method: Samples of urine were obtained from children (aged 6-12 years old) who resided in Ticul, Yucatan, Mexico.