Occupational exposures and parkinsonism among Shanghai women textile workers

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 61; no. 11; pp. 886 - 892
• Main Authors: Checkoway, Harvey, Ilango, Sindana, Li, Wenjin, Ray, Roberta M., Tanner, Caroline M., Hu, Shu‐Ching, Wang, Xin, Nielsen, Susan, Gao, Dao L., Thomas, David B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-11-2018
• Subjects: Basal ganglia; Brain diseases; Central nervous system diseases; Contaminants; Cotton; Dust; endotoxin; Exposure; Magnetic fields; Movement disorders; Night shifts; Occupational exposure; parkinsonism; Shift work; Solvents; Statistical analysis; textile industry; Working conditions; shift work; magnetic fields; textile industry; parkinsonism; endotoxin
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22906

Background
Endotoxin, a contaminant of cotton dust, is an experimental model for parkinsonism (PS).
Methods
We investigated associations between exposures to endotoxin, solvents, magnetic fields, and night shift work, and neurologist‐determined PS among Shanghai women textile workers, including 537 retired cotton factory workers ages ≥50 years and an age‐matched reference group of 286 retired textile workers not exposed to cotton dust. Repeat exams were conducted 2.5 years after enrollment among 467 cotton workers and 229 reference workers.
Results
We identified 39 prevalent PS cases and 784 non‐cases. No consistent or statistically significant associations were observed for endotoxin, solvents, magnetic fields, or shift work with PS risk, severity, or progression.
Conclusions
Despite the null findings, additional studies of endotoxin exposure and risk of PS in other well‐characterized occupational cohorts are warranted in view of toxicological evidence that endotoxin is a pathogenic agent and its widespread occurrence in multiple industries worldwide.