The Relationship Between Workplace Environment and Metabolic Syndrome in Different Industries

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), an important risk factor for Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD), is associated with a 2-fold increase in consequences of CVD and 1.5-fold increase in the total mortality . The term MetS refers to a clustering of CVD risk factors including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, high levels of blood triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. An inappropriate lifestyle is one of the most important risk factors for MetS and CVD . Likely, Workplace and working conditions can affect an employee's lifestyle including dietary intake, physical activity, sleep pattern, and their hobbies.

Workplace environment may also affect the occurrence of metabolic syndrome, Air pollution is another risk factor that can increase the risk of metabolic disorders. Recent epidemiological and experimental studies have reported an association between increased level of air pollution with insulin resistance, weight gain, and obesity . Air pollution is higher in some industrial work environments, including those of the gas and petrochemical industries. This may also increase the risk of MetS and CVD among employees of those workplaces. Few studies have assessed the health of employees in industrial workplaces. However, the working conditions of industrial workplace can have a significant impact on the lifestyle and health of employees.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has recently been suggested to vary greatly depending on the subject's business category; high prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been reported among the retired, unemployed, bus drivers, university employees, and workers in the agricultural industry , oil industry , and health care sector .

Type of occupation is also important in development of metabolic syndrome. For example, the incidence of metabolic syndrome in the white-collar workers are higher than other male workers. Those with sedentary or shift work carry a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. The incidence of metabolic syndrome is 2.3-fold higher in those working for 10 or more hours per day.

Multiple studies have linked benzene exposure with the abnormality of hematologic parameters, such as the reduction in the counts of white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), neutrophil, and lymphocyte, even at low exposure levels (< 1 ppm). A decreased WBC count has been considered as a key clinical sign of benzene-induced hematotoxicity.