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. 2018 Mar 5;18(1):314.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5191-5.

Risk assessment of occupational exposure to heavy metal mixtures: a study protocol

Fatma Omrane  1   2   3 , Imed Gargouri  4   5 , Moncef Khadhraoui  4 , Boubaker Elleuch  4 , Denis Zmirou-Navier  6   7   8
Affiliations

Risk assessment of occupational exposure to heavy metal mixtures: a study protocol

Fatma Omrane et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Sfax is a very industrialized city located in the southern region of Tunisia where heavy metals (HMs) pollution is now an established matter of fact. The health of its residents mainly those engaged in industrial metals-based activities is under threat. Indeed, such workers are being exposed to a variety of HMs mixtures, and this exposure has cumulative properties. Whereas current HMs exposure assessment is mainly carried out using direct air monitoring approaches, the present study aims to assess health risks associated with chronic occupational exposure to HMs in industry, using a modeling approach that will be validated later on.

Methods: To this end, two questionnaires were used. The first was an identification/descriptive questionnaire aimed at identifying, for each company: the specific activities, materials used, manufactured products and number of employees exposed. The second related to the job-task of the exposed persons, workplace characteristics (dimensions, ventilation, etc.), type of metals and emission configuration in space and time. Indoor air HMs concentrations were predicted, based on the mathematical models generally used to estimate occupational exposure to volatile substances (such as solvents). Later on, and in order to validate the adopted model, air monitoring will be carried out, as well as some biological monitoring aimed at assessing HMs excretion in the urine of workers volunteering to participate. Lastly, an interaction-based hazard index HIint and a decision support tool will be used to predict the cumulative risk assessment for HMs mixtures.

Discussion: One hundred sixty-one persons working in the 5 participating companies have been identified. Of these, 110 are directly engaged with HMs in the course of the manufacturing process. This model-based prediction of occupational exposure represents an alternative tool that is both time-saving and cost-effective in comparison with direct air monitoring approaches. Following validation of the different models according to job processes, via comparison with direct measurements and exploration of correlations with biological monitoring, these estimates will allow a cumulative risk characterization.

Keywords: Air monitoring; Biomonitoring; Heavy metals; Indoor pollution; Mixture; Modeling; Occupational exposure.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

In our situation, we needed company approvals corresponding to the equivalent of study approval. Our study deals with indoor air pollution in companies using heavy metals and its negative health impacts, without any direct contact with the workers. The only procedure we needed “consent to participate” in was the urine sampling. Samples are taken from workers who decide freely whether they want to participate. We seek their approval as to when the sampling will be carried out.

We received written informed consent from the study participants. The managers of all the companies approved and signed up to participate in our study.

We also received a formal letter from the National Southern Independent Ethics Committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud) under the reference number: CPP Sud 0034/2017. The letter states that our study complies with the ethical rules in our country. The committee reviewed the study and gave us a favorable opinion.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Location map showing industrial areas and the main sources of pollution in Sfax metropolis [40]. Permission from the corresponding author: Imed Gargouri
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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