Dental status as an indicator of the intensity of exposure to chemical pollution of the air in the working area

Introduction. Lack of knowledge of the oral status in chemical production workers determines the relevance of this study. In most studies, we did not find sufficiently comprehensive information about working conditions.

Aims. To assess the risks of developing somatic and dental pathologies among chemical production operators depending on the intensity and duration of exposure to chemical factors in order to reduce the occupational cause of health deterioration.

Materials and methods. A comprehensive clinical and hygienic examination was conducted in eight hundred seventy eight isoprene, divinyl, styrene, ethylene oxide production apparatchiks who were exposed to harmful substances. The working conditions are analyzed according to the production control data. The analysis of the microbial profile in periodontal pockets in 128 workers by polymerase chain reaction was performed.

Results. In the studied industries, differences were noted in the levels of exposure of the chemical factor to the body: in the production of divinyl and isoprene, working conditions corresponded to hazard class 3.1, styrene to class 3.2, ethylene oxide to class 3.3. Styrene production workers had a high degree of industrial conditionality of chronic cholecystitis (RR=2.16; EF=53.6%), biliary dyskinesia paths (RR=2.53; EF=60.5%). Ethylene oxide production apparatchiks showed a high degree of industrial conditionality of subatrophic nasopharyngitis (RR=2.60; EF=61.6%), chronic catarrhal laryngitis (RR=2.83; EE=64.7%), and severe chronic periodontitis (RR=2.36; EF=57.7%). The high prevalence of periodontopathogens P. Gingivalis and A. Actinomycetemcomitans has been shown.

Limitation. The lack of immunological and cytogenetic analysis data necessary for preclinical diagnosis of pathological changes in the oral cavity.

Conclusion. Significant differences in the level of exposure of the chemical factor to the health in workers have been revealed. A high degree of industrial conditionality of a number of somatic diseases in workers of styrene and ethylene oxide industries has been determined. The greatest deviations in the state of oral health were observed in ethylene oxide production workers with more than 20 years of work experience. Differences in the species composition of the microbiome of periodontal pockets in ethylene oxide apparatchiks, depending on work experience, were detected.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the Ufa Scientific Research Institute of Occupational Medicine and Human Ecology (meeting protocol No. 01-11 dated 22.11.2023), and the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association was carried out.

Contribution:
Zaydullin I.I. – the concept and design of the study, writing text, collection and processing of material;
Karimova L.K. – the concept and design of the study, editing;
Kaptsov V.A. – responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version;
Karimov D.O. – processing of material, statistical processing, editing;
Muldasheva N.A. – editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: May 24, 2024 / Revised: August 20, 2024 / Accepted: October 2, 2024 / Published: December 17, 2024