title: Past occupational dust exposure, depressive symptoms and anxiety in retired Chinese factory workers: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have systematically investigated the impact of past occupational dust exposure on mental health. We examined whether retired factory workers exposed to any of the 4 dusts of silica, cement, coal and asbestos had more depressive symptoms and anxiety in southern China, which has experienced rapid economic development.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study phase 3. Exposures, lifestyle, symptoms and medical history of the participants were assessed with a structured interview. Self-reported intensity and duration of past occupational dust exposure were used to derive cumulative exposure. Outcome measures were assessed by the 15-item Chinese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (score ≥5) and the single-item on anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that 359 workers were exposed to at least one of the 4 dusts and that 1,253 were unexposed (controls). After adjustment of multiple confounders, greater risks of depressive symptoms were associated with high exposure to silica (odds ratio (OR) of 3.12, 95% CI of 1.17-8.31) and asbestos (OR of 6.90; CI of 1.29-36.75). Risks of anxiety were higher in those with low or high exposures to dust (OR of 2.01 and CI of 1.04-3.87 and OR of 2.29 and CI of 1.30-4.03, respectively) and cement (OR of 3.20 and CI of 1.27-8.07 and OR of 2.30 and CI of 1.09-4.87, respectively), and those with high exposure to silica (OR of 5.29, CI of 1.76-15.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Past occupational exposures to silica, cement, coal and asbestos dusts were associated with adverse mental health outcomes in retired factory workers. The mechanism underlying the relationship between occupational exposures and psychological symptoms in later life needs to be further studied.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou No. 12 Hospital, Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Centre.
authors.forename: Qiu-Hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chao-Qiang
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Tai-Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ya-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Kar-Keung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003031:Coal / Q000633:toxicity; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000633:toxicity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D001194:Asbestos; D012822:Silicon Dioxide