Evaluation of respiratory function and biomarkers of exposure to mixtures of pollutants in brick-kilns workers from a marginalized urban area in Mexico

Biochemical and reproductive biomarker analysis to study the consequences of heavy metal burden on health profile of male brick kiln workers

“…Furthermore, our results showed that overweight (18%) and obese (10%) brick kiln workers were present in our study. A recent study also reported an increased number of overweight (50%) and obese kiln workers (35.7%) 26 .…”

“…Some of the individuals who participated in the present study were also addicted to various drugs such as smoking (22%). Previous studies have also reported that smoking trend is quite common in brick kiln workers 26 .…”

“…Besides heavy metal exposure, occupational factors within the brick kiln environment including job length, work type, and fuels used including the lack of protective equipment, have an additional deleterious impact on brick kiln worker health 24 , 25 . For example, a recent study conducted in Mexico reported a direct correlation between job duration and severity of pulmonary disorders among brick kiln workers 26 . In Pakistan, various researchers have conducted studies that have focused on occupational factors of brick kiln workers related to demographic and health-related variables.…”

Brick kiln pollution and its impact on health: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Ten studies evaluated the association between respiratory outcomes and number of years worked (Table S13): one study reported a positive correlation between the score obtained from a screening questionnaire for COPD and number of years worked (numerical value for correlation not given); 100 one study found a higher prevalence of small opacities on chest X-ray (≥0/1) and either number of years worked or estimated cumulative exposure to respirable quartz; 106 four studies did not find any relationship between respiratory symptoms or lung function and number of years worked; 70,79,89,107 four studies found either a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms or lower lung function with more years of work exposure. 5,80,88,114 Ten studies evaluated the association between respiratory outcomes and BKW occupation: three found more respiratory symptoms (including conditions like chronic bronchitis and asthma) in bakers when compared to other BKW types; 5,77,88 four did not find an association between lung function or respiratory symptoms and BKW type, 89,94,107,108 one found that among workers in the modulation, loading, burning and unloading sites, obstructive and restrictive impairments were highest in workers at the loading and burning sites, respectively, 108 one found that respiratory symptoms were lower in molders compared to carriers, stackers or firemen, 70 and one found more respiratory symptoms in bigaaris (translates to carriers) when compared to other brick kiln types.…”

“…We did not identify any papers reporting prevalence of cardiovascular disease among BKWs or any associations of cardiovascular outcomes with kiln pollutants. One study reported a prevalence of hypertension at 25.5% among Mexican BKWs, 100 and two studies reported heart rate and blood pressure before and after completion of work in the brick kiln as an assessment of physiological stress. 71,73 Comparing 220 male brick field workers from 12 brick fields in West Bengal, India and 130 controls engaged in office work, Das found no difference in resting heart rate between groups.…”