Zahra Zamanian; Reza Rostami; Kiana Nikeghbal
Volume 3, Issue 1 , January 2015, , Pages 45-49
Abstract
Background: Noise is one of the most important hazardous physical factors in industrial environments. This study aimed to determine the effects of noise exposure on serum cortisol level and some blood parameters among male workers of a steel production company.Methods: This cross-sectional study was ...
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Background: Noise is one of the most important hazardous physical factors in industrial environments. This study aimed to determine the effects of noise exposure on serum cortisol level and some blood parameters among male workers of a steel production company.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 male workers in a steel production company. In order to assess the changes in blood parameters, such as serum cortisol level, lipid profile, and blood sugar, blood samples were taken from the participants before and after the work shift. Besides, CEL 440 sound level meter was used to measure the equivalent sound pressure level (LAeq) and analyze the noise in octave band frequencies. Analyses of data were performed by SPSS software (version 16) using the Paired sample t-test.Results: The laboratory findings indicated an increase in serum cortisol at all exposure levels. However, the changes were not statistically significant. An increase was observed in blood sugar levels at all the three noise levels and the increment was statistically significant at 95 dB noise level.Conclusion: The present study showed that exposure to high sound levels leads to changes in biological parameters, although under the scenario explained in this study these changes did not reach statistical significant.
Alireza Choobineh; Masoud Neghab; Reza Rostami; Jafar Hassan Zadeh; Esmaeel Soleimani; Hadi Daneshmandi
Volume 1, Issue 1 , July 2013, , Pages 27-32
Abstract
AbstractBackground/Objective: This study was undertaken to addresspsychological health effects of dentists’ exposure to low ambientlevels of mercury.Methods: One hundred and six dentists and 94 generalpractitioners were randomly selected from clinics in Shiraz city,Iran. Subjects were asked to complete ...
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AbstractBackground/Objective: This study was undertaken to addresspsychological health effects of dentists’ exposure to low ambientlevels of mercury.Methods: One hundred and six dentists and 94 generalpractitioners were randomly selected from clinics in Shiraz city,Iran. Subjects were asked to complete the Persian version ofGeneral Health Questionnaire. The data were analyzed usingχ2 test, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney’s U test.Results: Both groups were similar as far as all demographicvariables, except age, were concerned. No significant differencewas noted between the dentists’ mean total score of GHQ-28 (17.9)and that of referent subjects (16.34). These scores were significantlylower than the cut-off point of 23 (P<0.01). The mean scores forsomatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and depression weresignificantly higher in dentists than in the referent subjects. Theresults also showed a significant association between GHQ-28total scores and length of exposure to mercury (P=0.034); withincrease in the job tenure, GHQ-28 total score also increased,indicating a decrement in psychological health status.Conclusion: The current findings revealed that, in general,the dentists’ psychological health status was poorer than thereferent subjects. Additionally, in all GHQ subscales, thedentists’ scores were significantly different from those of theircounterparts. Given the fact that exposure to mercury is the mostimportant differentiating variable between both groups, and thatneuropsychological disorders are the most common toxic effectof mercury, the difference between psychological health statusof the two groups is likely to be related to exposure to mercury.Please cite this article as: Choobineh AR, Neghab M, Rostami R, HassanzadehJ, Soleimani E, Daneshmandi H. The Relationship between Mercury Exposureand Psychological Health Status of Dentists. J Health Sci Surveillance Sys.2013;1(1):27-32.Keywords: Dentist; Mental health; Mercury