Background Noise and dust are the most widespread occupational hazards. Animal studies have shown that they may cause impaired fasting glucose (IFG) by disturbing glucose metabolism and impairing the function of pancreatic islet cells, which can lead to further development of diabetes.

Objective To investigate the effects of occupational noise or industrial dust exposure on the risk of impaired fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or diabetes mellitus in workers and potential combined effect of the two variables, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of diabetes mellitus in occupational groups.

Methods Data on occupational health surveillance of a total of 6836 workers in noise exposure group, productive dust exposure group, and control group were collected and collated from the occupational health examination case data of an occupational health examination institution in Jiangsu Province in 2020. χ² test, logistic regression analysis, and additive interaction model were used to analyze the relationships between occupational noise and/or productive dust exposure and IFG and diabetes.

Results The mean age of the 6836 workers was (44.1±9.6) years. Among them, 568 were assigned in the control group, 1961 in the noise-only exposure group, 1048 in the dust-only exposure group, and 3259 in the simultaneous exposure group. The prevalence of IFG in this study population was 9.61%, and the prevalence of diabetes was 7.36%. The results of logistic regression showed that the odds ratios (OR) of IFG and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for IFG were 1.55 (1.01, 2.37), 1.67 (1.06, 2.64), and 2.60 (1.4, 3.89) in workers with noise exposure only, dust exposure only, and both exposures, respectively. The OR (95%CI) values for diabetes in workers exposed to noise only, dust only, and both were 1.76 (1.04, 3.00), 1.92 (1.12, 3.30), and 2.80 (1.71, 4.60), respectively. The results of interaction analysis showed no multiplicative interaction between noise and dust exposure on IFG (OR=0.94, 95%CI: 0.58, 1.51) or diabetes (OR=0.75, 95%CI: 0.42, 1.33). The relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and synergy index (S) for noise and dust exposure on IFG were 0.30 (95%CI: −0.31, 0.92), 0.11% (95%CI: −0.13%, 0.35%), and 1.21 (95%CI: 0.74, 1.99), respectively. The three indicators for noise and dust exposure on diabetes were -0.02 (95%CI: −0.91, 0.87), 0.01% (95%CI: −0.29%, 0.28%), and 0.99 (95%CI: 0.66, 1.50), respectively, suggesting no additive interaction.

Conclusion Occupational noise and industrial dust exposure are risk factors for IFG and diabetes mellitus, and a combined effect of concurrent exposure to these two factors is identified but not an interactive effect. Health monitoring and regular screening should be targeted at workers exposed to occupational noise and industrial dust to reduce the prevalence of IFG and diabetes mellitus in occupational population.