Wen Lina, Zhou Lezhou, Zhu Xiaochao, Mei Yong
Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Central Laboratory, Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, Changsha, China.
Front Public Health. 2025 Jul 25;13:1635236. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1635236. eCollection 2025.
This study aims to characterize current whole blood levels of heavy metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) among occupational populations in Hunan Province, China, and identify exposure determinants to inform health management strategies.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,991 occupational workers. Demographic data, occupational exposure history, and lifestyle habits were collected. Whole blood samples were analyzed via atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Pb and Cd levels, and atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry for Hg and As concentrations. Multiple linear regression was used to identify exposure predictors, and K-means clustering to categorize exposure patterns.
Elevated exceedance rates were observed for all metals, with Hg showing the highest rate (17.39%). Significantly higher blood metal levels ( < 0.05) were associated with males, age > 50 years, employment duration > 20 years, mining occupations, residence in Chang-Zhu-Tan, smoking, and drinking. Regression analyses revealed gender, age, employment duration, occupation type, and smoking as significant predictors of Pb and Cd levels ( < 0.05); gender, age, employment duration, and drinking for Hg ( < 0.05); and gender, age, employment duration, occupation type, and geographic region for As ( < 0.05). K-means clustering stratified participants into low-, medium-, and high-exposure groups, with the latter exhibiting markedly elevated metal levels ( < 0.05), including some samples exceeding occupational exposure limits.
Whole blood heavy metal levels in Hunan occupational populations are significantly influenced by gender, age, employment duration, occupation type, and geographic factors. Targeted exposure mitigation and enhanced biomonitoring are urgently needed for high-risk subgroups.
本研究旨在描述中国湖南省职业人群中铅（Pb）、镉（Cd）、汞（Hg）和砷（As）等重金属的当前全血水平，并确定暴露决定因素以指导健康管理策略。
对2991名职业工人进行了一项横断面研究。收集了人口统计学数据、职业暴露史和生活习惯。通过原子吸收分光光度法分析全血样本中的铅和镉水平，通过原子荧光分光光度法分析汞和砷的浓度。使用多元线性回归确定暴露预测因素，并使用K均值聚类对暴露模式进行分类。
所有金属的超标率均有所升高，其中汞的超标率最高（17.39%）。血液金属水平显著较高（<0.05）与男性、年龄>50岁、就业年限>20年、采矿职业、居住在长株潭地区、吸烟和饮酒有关。回归分析显示，性别、年龄、就业年限职业类型和吸烟是铅和镉水平的显著预测因素（<0.05）；性别、年龄、就业年限和饮酒是汞水平的显著预测因素（<0.05）；性别、年龄、就业年限、职业类型和地理区域是砷水平的显著预测因素（<0.05）。K均值聚类将参与者分为低、中、高暴露组，后者的金属水平显著升高（<0.05），包括一些超过职业暴露限值的样本。
湖南职业人群的全血重金属水平受性别、年龄、就业年限、职业类型和地理因素的显著影响。高风险亚组迫切需要有针对性的暴露缓解措施和加强生物监测。
