Objective To examine the effects of nano-CaCO3 on hematological and cardiovascular systems in an occupational population.
Methods A total of 129 workers from a nano-CaCO3 plant of Shanxi Province were selected as an exposure group, and 60 staff of a hospital in the same county were selected as a control group. General information of the participants were collected by questionnaires, and routine physical examinations were performed.
Results The prevalence rate of hypertension was 30.23%, and the abnormal rates of heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG) were 17.83% and 44.96% respectively in the exposure group, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (13.33%, 6.67%, and 6.67% respectively, P<0.05). The abnormal rate of hemoglobin, number of red blood cells, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width coefficient of variation, percentage of lymphocytes, percentage of neutrophilic granulocyte, total bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin in the exposure group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that nano-CaCO3 exposure was positively associated with lymphocytes, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, total bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin. Length of service was negatively associated with hemoglobin and hematocrit. Exposure and length of service were positively associated with mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the nano-CaCO3 exposure was a major risk factor for hypertension and abnormalities of the ECG (OR=5.118, P<0.05; OR=17.736, P<0.05).
Conclusion Nano-CaCO3 could influence the hematological and cardiovascular systems of occupationally exposed populations.
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