The relationship between occupational exposure to organic solvents and metabolic syndrome in petroleum refinery workers in Tehran, Iran

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome clinical research & reviews Vol. 15; no. 5; p. 102223
• Main Authors: Hosseininejad, Mahin, Fateme salehi, Mirzamohammadi, Elham, Mohsenizadeh, Seyed Abolfazl, Mohammadi, Saber
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2021
• Subjects: Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Male; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - chemically induced; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic Syndrome - pathology; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - pathology; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Organic Chemicals - adverse effects; Organic solvents; Petroleum - adverse effects; Prevalence; Prognosis; Solvents - adverse effects; Iran; Metabolic syndrome; Occupational exposure; Organic solvents
• ISSN: 1871-4021; 1878-0334
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2021.102223

The rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome has made it a major health concern. Chronic occupational exposure to organic solvents affects different systems of the body. This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to organic solvents and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in petroleum refinery workers.
This study was conducted in 2019–2020 on workers employed in an Iranian petroleum refinery. The demographic and occupational information on the participants was obtained using the interview method. Their height, weight, and blood pressure were measured by the occupational health team, and fasting blood samples were taken from them to measure the paraclinical parameters.
In this study, 1009 petroleum refinery workers were analyzed. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in workers was 20.1% and it was about two times higher in exposed workers (CI 95%: 1.61–3.35) compared to non-exposed ones. Factors associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome include age, higher BMI, exercise, and longer exposure to organic solvents.
Findings of this study suggested that exposure to organic solvents is associated with increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (the highest association was observed with elevated serum triglycerides). Besides, longer exposure to organic solvents increased the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
•Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major health concern in both developed and developing countries.•We describe an association between solvent exposure and the prevalence of MetS (using ATP III criteria) in refinery workers.•Regular exercise can be effective in reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome in solvent-exposed workers.