Impact of occupational heat exposure on blood lipids among petrochemical workers: An analysis of 9-year longitudinal data

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the influence of occupational heat exposure on dyslipidemia among petrochemical workers and identify susceptible groups. Methods: A total of 30,847 workers’ occupational health examination data were collected from two petrochemical plants in Fujian Province from 2013 to 2021. The dataset included occupational exposure information and blood lipid test results, encompassing total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels. A Generalized Estimating Equations model was used to analyze the impact of heat exposure alone or coupled with other occupational hazards on workers' blood lipids. Results: The one-factor exposure model shows that most of the individual occupational hazards were significantly negatively associated with dyslipidemia. In the two-factor exposure model, heat combined with gasoline exposure (Incidence Rate Ratio, IRR=1.267, 95% CI 1.117-1.437) and heat combined with hydrogen sulfide exposure (1.324, 1.166-1.505) significantly increased the risk of high TC. Stratified analysis showed that in the dual exposure model of high temperature combined with gasoline or hydrogen sulfide, women , individuals aged over 35, non-smoking , and non-alcohol drinking were more likely to have heat-related high TC. Conclusion: The impact of heat and other petrochemical factors on blood lipids may be affected by healthy worker effect. Heat exposure combined with gasoline or hydrogen sulfide can significantly increase the risk of dyslipidemia. Occupational health interventions should pay more attention to female workers aged over 35 years who do not smoke or drink alcohol.