Mean (SD) and median values of variables under study for all subjects and subjects (group A) with >4 h/week v <4 h/week exposure to beryls (group B), and results of t tests (*p<0.05), differences in means (95% CI)
| Variable | All subjects (n=57) | Exposure to beryls | t Value | Difference | 95% CI | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A >4 h/week (n=27) | B ⩽4 h/week (n=30) | |||||||||||||
| Mean | SD | Median | Mean | SD | Median | Mean | SD | Median | ||||||
| Age (y) | 42.0 | 13.3 | 42.0 | 42.3 | 14.0 | 44.0 | 41.6 | 12.9 | 41.0 | 0.20 | 0.7 | −4.2 to 5.6 | ||
| Duration of work as jeweller (y) | 24.8 | 15.4 | 23.0 | 25.5 | 15.8 | 30.0 | 24.2 | 15.2 | 20.0 | 0.33 | 1.3 | −4.5 to 7.1 | ||
| Duration of work per week (h/week) | 38.5 | 6.6 | 40.0 | 39.2 | 5.9 | 40.0 | 37.9 | 7.3 | 39.0 | 0.77 | 1.3 | −1.2 to 3.8 | ||
| Nickel (before the shift) (μg/l urine) | 1.48 | 1.01 | 1.25 | 1.41 | 1.07 | 1.10 | 1.55 | 0.96 | 1.60 | 0.52 | −0.14 | −0.52 to 2.4 | ||
| Nickel (after the shift) (μg/l urine) | 1.11 | 0.73 | 1.10 | 1.04 | 0.72 | 0.90 | 1.18 | 0.75 | 1.15 | 0.73 | −0.14 | −0.42 to 0.14 | ||
| Aluminium (before the shift) (μg/l urine) | 7.90 | 11.8 | 5.40 | 7.31 | 5.30 | 5.90 | 8.43 | 15.6 | 4.75 | 0.35 | −1.12 | −5.44 to 3.2 | ||
| Alumimium (after the shift) (μg/l urine) | 6.34 | 10.1 | 3.90 | 5.64 | 4.70 | 4.50 | 6.98 | 13.3 | 3.35 | 0.49 | −1.34 | −5.08 to 2.4 | ||
| Beryllium (before the shift) (μg/l urine) | — | — | — | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.09 | nd | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Beryllium (after the shift) (μg/l urine) | — | — | — | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.03 | nd | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Relative density, urine (before the shift) | 1.022 | 0.006 | 1.020 | 1.022 | 0.005 | 1.022 | 1.021 | 0.007 | 1.020 | 0.45 | −0.001 | −0.003 to 0.001 | ||
| Relative density, urine (after the shift) | 1.019 | 0.007 | 1.019 | 1.020 | 0.007 | 1.021 | 1.019 | 0.007 | 1.019 | 0.46 | −0.001 | −0.004 to 0.002 | ||
| Lead (after the shift) (μg/l blood) | 86.2 | 46.8 | 69.4 | 99.6 | 54.4 | 91.2 | 74.2 | 35.6 | 66.2 | 2.10* | 25.4 | 8.2 to 42.6 | ||
| Micronucleus rate (/500 cells) | 9.93 | 4.34 | 9.74 | 9.81 | 4.89 | 8.67 | 10.0 | 3.87 | 9.91 | 0.19 | −0.19 | −1.85 to 1.47 | ||
| SCE rate (/cell) | 9.82 | 1.78 | 9.48 | 9.70 | 1.11 | 9.87 | 9.91 | 2.17 | 9.38 | 0.42 | −0.21 | −0.86 to 0.44 | ||
nd=Not detectable; SCE=sister chromotid exchange.