Overweight and urban pollution: preliminary results.
The aim of this study is to determine whether in workers exposed to urban pollution the risk of developing overweight and obesity is higher in workers exposed to urban pollution compared to a control group. The study was conducted on 150 volunteers, 75 workers exposed to urban pollution (50 women and 25 men) and 75 indoor workers (50 women and 25 men). Once measured the weight and height and calculated body mass index (BMI) for each worker, the research was based on the comparison, between the two groups, of the mean values of the measurements and of the frequency of workers with BMI index higher than the cut-off of normality. The only statistically significant difference found was for the mean value of weight in women, which was higher among outdoor workers compared to indoor workers. The mean values of BMI and the frequency of workers with BMI higher than normal was higher among outdoor workers compared to indoor workers in both sexes, but not statistically significant. The data suggest that outdoor workers may be subject to an additional risk of developing obesity as a result of exposure to urban air pollution (which, like obesity, is a source of oxidative stress). So, our preliminary study encourages to continue this line of research by implementing the sample and considering all the confounding factors. Furthermore, the results highlight the necessity to take account of gender differences in the context of health surveillance of workers.
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Barnaba Giuseppina
BG
Ponticiello
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Assunta
A
Capozzella
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Valeria
V
Di Giorgio
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Teodorico
T
Casale
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Giubilati
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Psychiatric and Psychological Science, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.tomei@uniroma1.it.
Gianfranco
G
Tomei
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Francesco
F
Tomei
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Maria Valeria
MV
Rosati
University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dir: Prof. F. Tomei), Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Angela
A
Sancini
D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*
BMI; Obesity; Outdoor workers; Overweight; Urban pollution