Thyroid Gland Dysfunction Among Workers Occupationally Exposed to Cold in Food Processing Plant

There is increasing evidence that cold stress affects various immune processes, through hormonal changes involving corticosterone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4). In this work, we investigated cold exposure-induced thyroidgland affection and Cortisol levels. A total number of hundred workers are involved in this study. Sixty of them are occupationally exposed to cold environment (5 to -40 °C) in meat processing factory. A matched referent group of forty subjectsare involved from the administrative department of the samefactory. Our results showed a statistically significant higherlevels of serum Cortisol, T4 and TSH (12.76jLig/dl; 9.6jig/dland 1.38jLiIU/ml) among workers occupationally exposed tocold environment than that of the control group (7.8jLig/dl;8.6jig/dl; 1.02jLiIU/ml). We concluded that occupational cold exposure posses a great risk of cortico-thyroid gland hyperfunction, which is not related to duration of cold exposure.We recommend emphasizing the importance of educating workers about the use of personal protective clothes and devices. Periodic medical and laboratory check up should beperformed for those workers occupationally exposed to cold environment regarding the T3, T4, TSH, Cortisol, Hb and Iron levels. For those suffering from cortico-thyoid gland dysfunction,they should be prohibited from further occupational exposure to cold environment.