Effects of Cement Dust on Electrolytes and Osmolality in Serum and Urine of Kufa Cement Factory workers

Abstract

Cement industry is considered one of the serious pollutants in the environment inducing different kinds of

health problems among workers. However, there have been few studies examining the adverse effects of

cement dust on the levels of electrolytes and osmolality among workers. In the current study, we investigated

the potential impacts of the cement dust on the levels of electrolytes and osmolality in both serum and urine

among workers of Kufa Cement Factory. The workers were grouped into three groups according to their

departments. The workers, who were aged between 38-48 years, were grouped into oven workers (N=20),

mills workers (N=16) and control workers (N=22). While workers who were aged between 49-59 years,

were also grouped into oven workers (N=14), mills workers (N=13) and control workers (N=9). Serum

and urine samples were collected from all studied subjects. Regardless of age groups, the results showed

that the levels of serum sodium and potassium were significantly increased among workers at the oven and

mills departments compared to the control. While the levels of blood serum calcium and osmolality were

significantly reduced among workers at the oven and mills departments compared to control group. In the

urine samples, the levels of sodium were significantly higher among oven workers compared to the findings

in both mills and control. While the levels of calcium and osmolality were significantly higher in both oven

and mills workers compared to the control.