Molecular Markers of Acute Upper Airway Inflammation in Workers Exposed to Fuel-Oil Ash

Details

• Personal Author:
  Christiani, David C. ; Hauser R ; Lewis, Daniel M. ; Liu YC ; Siegel, Paul D. ; Smith, Thomas J. ; Tollerud DJ ; Woodin MA
• Description:
  Biomarkers in nasal lavage (NL) fluid may be useful in determining the presence and severity of upper airway inflammation. We studied 18 boilermakers overhauling a large, oil-fired boiler and 11 utility workers who served as controls for 6 wk. NL was performed before (NL1), during (NL2), and after (NL3) the overhaul. We measured nasal fluid levels of interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 8 (IL-8), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) as markers of response to fuel-oil ash exposure. In boilermakers, MPO was elevated during boiler work versus preboiler work (mean = 33.8 versus 22.7 ng/ml, p < 0.05), and at the 2-wk postexposure lavage (NL3) it had declined to 24.2 ng/ml (p = 0.08). Mean IL-8 levels increased in boilermakers between NL1 and NL2 (mean = 83.8 versus 134.8 pg/ml, p < 0.05), then decreased at NL3 (mean = 134.8 versus 89.0 pg/ml, p < 0.05). Nasal fluid vanadium increased in boilermakers between NL1 and NL2 (median < 1.0 versus 4.7 ppb, respectively, p < 0.05), then decreased at NL3 (median, 4.7 versus < 1.0 ppb, respectively, p < 0.05). Levels of IL-6 and ECP did not change significantly during the study. Utility workers showed no significant change in any marker during the study period. Particulate matter < 10 mu m (PM10) levels were higher for boilermakers than for utility workers before boiler work (geometric mean (GM) = 0.40 versus 0.10 mg/m(3), p < 0.05). This difference was more significant during boiler work (GM = 0.47 versus 0.13 mg/m(3), p < 0.001). Ozone levels were low during the study. These data suggest that exposure to fuel-oil ash results in acute upper airway inflammation, potentially mediated by increased IL-8 levels and the recruitment and activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These changes were associated with significantly increased PM10 levels and concentrations of upper airway vanadium. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Fuel Oils Irritants Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory Hypersensitivity Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Airway-resistance Fly-ash Fuels Immune-system-disorders Particulates Pulmonary-disorders Respiration Respiratory-hypersensitivity Respiratory-irritants Statistical-analysis
• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  182-187
• Volume:
  158
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20033903
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1998 Jul; 158(1):182-187
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1998
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a5977e7406f01871565630f9ddba953087cf0516aa67a28a96ee7d4c6c23241a2e57664daa82194747f2b316aa7dd858c8596004c6052a4f4fe3b78d6af050d4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/189307/cdc_189307_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 111.98 KB ]