Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of occupational aluminum exposure on psychology, neural behaviors, cognitive function, and autonomic nervous function of workers. Methods A total of 110 male aluminum-exposed workers of a large aluminum plant in Guangxi were selected as subjects of the exposure group and 110 workers from the service company affiliated to aluminum plant whose ages and education levels matched those of subjects were selected as controls of the control group. WHO neuro-behavior core recommendation test was adopted to evaluate the psychological feelings and neural behaviors of all workers. The cognitive function was evaluated by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the changes of autonomic nervous function were examined. Aluminium levels of working environment and serum and urine samples of workers were monitored. Results The average air aluminum levels of the batch preparation workshop, electrolysis workshop, and casting workshop were (6.45±1.23), (7.02±1.45), and (6.95±1.86) mg/m³, which were significantly higher than that of the control group (F=7.463, P<0.001). Serum and urinary aluminum levels of the exposure group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The results of questionnaire survey of psychological feelings showed that scores of “confused-puzzled” and “nervous-anxious” of the exposure group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05) and the differences of other indexes were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Neurobehavioral function detection showed that simple reaction time, digital decoding hit points and management, and the correct number of the exposure group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05) and the differences of other indexes were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The total score of MMSE and scores of place orientation, immediate memory and language, calculation and attention, short-term memory, and verbal expression and Rmax∶Rmin of the exposure group were all significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Scores of place orientation, immediate memory and language, calculation and attention, short-term memory, verbal expression, and language understanding of workers who had exposed to aluminum for more than 10 years were significantly lower than those of workers who had exposed to aluminum for less than 5 years (P<0.05). Conclusion Occupational aluminum exposure can cause obvious changes of psychological state, nerve movement speed, accuracy, coordination ability, and parasympathetic nerve regulation function of workers.

Key words: aluminum, neural behavior, psychology, cognitive function