title: [A study of high altitude environment affecting on worker's health during the constructing Qinghai-Xizang railway].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study high altitude environment affecting on worker's health
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the cohort study, the altitude reaction was investigated and the WBC, RBC, Hb and oxygenation indexes were measured on workers in several periods, namely, acclimatization period, initially arrived high altitude and resident 90 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 83.3% of men had altitude reactions with different kinds at initially arrived high altitude. The headache was the most. The rate of abnormal blood pressure increased with altitude and resident time (P < 0.01). The rate of 90 day's group was 41.7%. The rise of diastole pressure was obvious (P < 0.01). As the beginning of arrived highland, the increase of WBC, RBC were significant (P < 0.01). The increase of Hb appeared only in 90 day's group. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) obviously increased during acclimatization period and increased with altitude and resident time (P < 0.01). The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased significantly in 90 day's group [(222.36 +/- 36.52) x 10(3) U/L, (158.49 +/- 14.42) U/L, (45.74 +/- 8.31) NU/ml respectively] (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high altitude environment may result in the abnormal blood pressure, the rise of diastolic pressure was important. It lead to the increase of WBC, RBC, Hb. It initiated activity of oxygenation reaction. The symptoms of headache, dizziness, loss of appetite and insomnia appeared as working in high altitude environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, North China Coal Medical College, Tangshan 063000, China.
authors.forename: Xue-yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yu-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shu-jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tong-chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shou-quan
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jing-liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shi-lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D006281:Health Occupations; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged