Respiratory Health and Urinary Trace Metals among Artisanal Stone-Crushers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lubumbashi, DR Congo

Tony Kayembe-Kitenge, Irene Kabange Umba, Paul Musa Obadia, Sebastien Mbuyi-Musanzayi, Patient Nkulu Banza, Patrick D. M. C. Katoto, Cyrille Katshiez Nawej, Georges Kalenga Ilunga, Vincent Haufroid, Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu, Tim Nawrot and Benoit Nemery
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Tony Kayembe-Kitenge: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Irene Kabange Umba: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Paul Musa Obadia: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sebastien Mbuyi-Musanzayi: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Patient Nkulu Banza: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Patrick D. M. C. Katoto: Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Cyrille Katshiez Nawej: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kolwezi, Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Georges Kalenga Ilunga: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Vincent Haufroid: Louvain Center for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu: Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tim Nawrot: Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Benoit Nemery: Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Thousands of artisanal workers are exposed to mineral dusts from various origins in the African Copperbelt. We determined the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and urinary metals among artisanal stone-crushers in Lubumbashi. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 48 male artisanal stone-crushers and 50 male taxi-drivers using a standardized questionnaire and spirometry. Concentrations of trace metals were measured by Inductively Coupled - Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in urine spot samples. Results: Urinary Co, Ni, As, and Se were higher in stone-crushers than in control participants. Wheezing was more prevalent ( p = 0.021) among stone-crushers (23%) than among taxi-drivers (6%). In multiple logistic regression analysis, the job of a stone-crusher was associated to wheezing (adjusted Odds Ratio 4.45, 95% Confidence Interval 1.09–18.24). Stone-crushers had higher values (% predicted) than taxi-drivers for Forced Vital Capacity (105.4 ± 15.9 vs. 92.2 ± 17.8, p = 0.048), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (104.4 ± 13.7 vs. 88.0 ± 19.6, p = 0.052), and Maximum Expiratory Flow at 25% of the Forced Vital Capacity (79.0.1 ± 20.7 vs. 55.7 ± 30.1, p = 0.078). Conclusion: Stone-crushers were more heavily exposed to mineral dust and various trace elements than taxi-drivers, and they had a fourfold increased risk of reporting wheezing, but they did not have evidence of more respiratory impairment than taxi-drivers.

Keywords: respiratory health; spirometry; metal biomonitoring; mineral dust; mining; Lubumbashi (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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