Interaction of occupational manganese exposure and alcohol drinking aggravates the increase of liver enzyme concentrations from a cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

BackgroundOver exposure to manganese (Mn) can damage the human central nervous system and potentially cause liver toxicity. Alcohol drinking is also one of the well-known harmful factors to hepatic organism. The interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption to liver function was investigated in this study.MethodsA total of 1112 on-the-spot workers were included in the cross-sectional survey from a large scale of manganese exposed workers healthy cohort (MEWHC) in a ferro-manganese refinery company. A questionnaire was used to collect the demographic information, occupational history, and alcohol drinking habits. Occupational health examination was carried out for each worker. The five key serum indices, including total bilirubin (TBILI), direct bilirubin (DBILI), indirect bilirubin (IBILI), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), were determined to evaluate the liver function of each subject.ResultsWorkers exposed to high levels of Mn had significantly elevated serum concentrations of liver enzymes (DBILI: 3.84±1.20 μmol/L, ALT: 27.04±19.12 IU/L, and AST: 29.96±16.68 IU/L), when compared to those in the low-exposure group (DBIL: 3.54±0.85 μmol/L, ALT: 20.38±10.97 IU/L, and AST: 26.39±8.07 IU/L), all P<0.01. These serum indices had a significantly increasing trend with the elevation of Mn exposure level (Ptrend <0.01). In addition, the workers with alcohol drinking also showed higher concentrations of liver enzymes than those non-drinkers, especially, and there was significant interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption in terms of these three indices (P<0.001).ConclusionsOccupational exposure to Mn can lead to a dose-dependent increase of liver enzyme concentrations, and interact with alcohol drinking to potentially aggravate the liver damage. It will be important for Mn exposed workers to control drinking and also assess liver function in the occupational health examination.

Cognitive function and plasma BDNF levels among manganese-exposed smelters

“…A total of 843 occupational Mn-exposed workers were included in this cross-sectional epidemiological study; they formed one part of our Mn-exposed workers healthy cohort (MEWHC), as previously described 27. To compare the cognitive function of Mn-exposed workers with that of the healthy population, we recruited a group of union 293 workers with no Mn exposure from a sugar refinery in the same region as the Mn-exposed workers.…”

Occupational exposure to manganese and risk of creatine kinase and creatine kinase‐MB elevation among ferromanganese refinery workers

“…Elevated Mn exposure is linked to adverse health outcomes. In recent years, epidemiological evidence has emerged indicating that Mn toxicity involves the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and liver function, and is, therefore, a relevant occupational health concern 3‐8 …”

“…In recent years, epidemiological evidence has emerged indicating that Mn toxicity involves the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and liver function, and is, therefore, a relevant occupational health concern. [3][4][5][6][7][8] Despite demonstrated neurological deficits caused by elevated exposure to Mn, limited research is available on Mninduced cardiovascular dysfunction. A series of earlier experiments on animal models, including rat, cat, pig, rabbit, and dog, indicated that Mn salts can affect cardiovascular function primarily by affecting myocardial contraction, resulting in a fall in blood pressure.…”

Toxicologic Characteristics of Nanodisperse Manganese Oxide: Physical-Chemical Properties, Biological Accumulation, and Morphological-Functional Properties at Various Exposure Types

“…Histopathologic examinations revealed that МnO 2 nanoparticles had toxic influence on liver and kidneys [46]. There is an assumption that manganese is transported to organs with significant mitochondria content (to liver, pancreas and hypophysis in particular) where it is accumulated very fast [47].…”