Comparing plasma, serum, and whole blood indium concentrations from workers at an indium-tin oxide (ITO) production facility

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cumminigs K ; Edwards, Nicole T. ; Harvey R ; Virji M
• Description:
  Rationale: Occupational exposure to indium compounds including ITO can result in potentially fatal indium lung disease. Plasma, serum, and whole blood indium concentrations (In-P, In-S, and In-B) have been used as exposure metrics clinically and for epidemiologic studies. In Japan, a biological exposure limit of 3 mcg/L In-S has been established. In the United States, adverse health outcomes were associated with .1 mcg/L In-P. We compared In-P, In-S, and In-B from workers at an ITO production facility to assess comparability of these metrics. Methods: In-P and In-S were collected simultaneously in June-July 2014 as part of a research study of current workers. With study participants' permission, we obtained In-B results measured by the company's medical surveillance program also collected in June-July 2014 within a median 5 days of In-P and In-S collection. One commercial laboratory performed all measurements using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ICP-MS method used for In-P and In-S however was more sensitive (limit of quantification [LOQ], 0.1mcg/L) than that used for In-B (LOQ, 0.5 mcg/L). We excluded workers without each exposure metric, and those with In-B below the less sensitive LOQ. Relationships were evaluated using paired t-tests, mean difference plots, and linear regression. Results: Measurements from a total of 50 workers were included in the analyses. Mean In-P, In-S, and In-B measured 3.48, 3.90, and 4.66 mcg/L, respectively (P<0.01). The In-S.In-P mean difference was 0.42 mcg/L, with individual matched-pairs ranging from -0.01.2 mcg/L difference; In-S was higher than In-P in all but one worker. In-P and In-S were highly correlated (r=0.99). In-B was more variable when compared to In-P and In-S. The In-B.In-S mean difference was 0.76 mcg/L (range: -0.70.10); In-B was higher in 88% of workers. The In-B.In-P mean difference was 1.18 mcg/L (range: -0.21.11); In-B was higher in 68% of workers. Although more variable, In-B was still highly correlated with both In-P and In-S (r=0.94 and 0.93, respectively). Conclusions: While In-P, In-S, and In-B were highly correlated in this workforce, meaningful differences among the metrics were found. On average, In-P values were lowest and In-B values were highest. The small mean difference between In-P and In-S indicates that these metrics are comparable and allows the comparison of indium exposure across different workforces. In contrast, In-B is considerably higher and more variable than In-P and In-S, and should not be compared to these metrics in different workforces. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Chemistry Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Indium Laboratories Lung Lung Diseases Morbidity Mortality Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Biological Effects Chemical Composition Chemical Properties Exposure Levels Indium Compounds Lung Disease Morbidity Rates Mortality Surveys Risk Factors
• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  193
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048498
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016 May; 193(Abstract Issue):A3008
• Email:
  pslai@hsph.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Indium tin oxide (In1.69Sn0.15O2.85) (CAS RN 71243-84-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• Supplement:
  Abstract Issue
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4fa5ab872ad09361dec874c1ff6cd4ca6c38770b1b2a0b505fed2a2f3e4863398acf0d618332449b195e60940d67751997974a8118cda9b314678e2a691d0332
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203243/cdc_203243_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 20.21 KB ]