Evaluation of Radiological Abnormalities in Workers Exposed to Heavy Metals and Solvents: A Single-Center Study

Abstract

Objectives: Heavy metal and solvent exposure is an important occupational hazard that causes serious health problems in industrial workers. This study aimed to evaluate radiological abnormalities in patients diagnosed with occupational heavy metal and solvent toxicity. Materials and Methods: Retrospectively, 962 male patients between the ages of 18 and 64 who were diagnosed with heavy metal and solvent toxicity between 2018 and 2020 were examined. Radiological evaluations were performed with posterior-anterior chest radiography, high-resolution computed tomography of the thorax, abdominal radiography and abdominal ultrasonography. Abnormal findings were systematically recorded and analyzed. Results: Emphysema was detected in 29.6% of the patients, hepatosteatosis in 58.1% and osteoporosis in 14.2%. These rates are higher than the rates in the general population. Additionally, 10.2% of patients had a reticulonodular pattern suggestive of pneumoconiosis, while 6.1% had gallbladder polyps. Conclusion: This study demonstrates severe pulmonary, hepatic, and skeletal abnormalities in workers exposed to heavy metals and solvents. The findings highlight the need for stricter occupational safety regulations, preventive strategies, and regular health screenings for workers at risk. Future studies should focus on prospective studies that include both male and female individuals to understand the long-term effects of these toxic exposures.

Keywords

• Occupational exposures
• heavy metals
• solvents
• radiology
• fatty liver

Ağır Metal ve Solventlere Maruz Kalan Çalışanlarda Radyolojik Anormalliklerin Değerlendirilmesi: Tek Merkezli Bir Çalışma Hakan Baş1, Leyli Can Aynal2, Özgür Akkale3, Abdulsamet

Abstract

Amaç: Ağır metal ve solvent maruziyeti, endüstriyel çalışanlarda ciddi sağlık sorunlarına yol açan önemli bir mesleki tehlikedir. Bu çalışmada, mesleki ağır metal ve solvent toksisitesi tanısı alan hastalarda radyolojik anormalliklerin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştı Gereç ve Yöntem: Retrospektif olarak 2018-2020 yılları arasında ağır metal ve solvent toksisitesi tanısı alan 18-64 yaş arası 962 erkek hasta incelendi. Radyolojik değerlendirmeler posterior-anterior akciğer grafisi, toraksın yüksek çözünürlüklü bilgisayarlı tomografisi, abdominal radyografi ve abdominal ultrasonografi ile gerçekleştirildi. Anormal bulgular sistematik olarak kaydedildi ve analiz edildi. Bulgular: Hastaların %29,6’sında amfizem, %58,1’inde hepatosteatoz ve %14,2’sinde osteoporoz tespit edilmiştir. Bu oranlar, genel popülasyondaki oranlarından daha yüksektir. Ek olarak, hastaların %10.2’sinde pnömokonyozu işaret eden retikülonodüler patern saptanmış, %6,1’inde ise safra kesesi polipleri bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, ağır metallere ve çözücülere maruz kalan çalışanlarda ciddi pulmoner, hepatik ve iskelet sistemi anormalliklerini ortaya koymaktadır. Bulgular, risk altındaki çalışanlar için daha katı iş güvenliği düzenlemeleri, önleyici stratejiler ve düzenli sağlık taramalarına olan

Keywords

• Mesleki maruziyetler
• ağır metaller
• solventler
• radyoloji
• karaciğer yağlanması

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