Details:

Alternative Title:
Ann Am Thorac Soc
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201407-346OC
Personal Author:
Cummings, Kristin J. ; Virji, M. Abbas ; Trapnell, Bruce C. ; Carey, Brenna ; Healey, Terrance ; ... More +
Cummings, Kristin J. ; Virji, M. Abbas ; Trapnell, Bruce C. ; Carey, Brenna ; Healey, Terrance ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Less -
Description:
Rationale Occupational exposure to indium compounds, including indium–tin oxide, can result in potentially fatal indium lung disease. However, the early effects of exposure on the lungs are not well understood. Objectives To determine the relationship between short-term occupational exposures to indium compounds and the development of early lung abnormalities. Methods Among indium–tin oxide production and reclamation facility workers, we measured plasma indium, respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, chest computed tomography, and serum biomarkers of lung disease. Relationships between plasma indium concentration and health outcome variables were evaluated using restricted cubic spline and linear regression models. Measurements and Main Results Eighty-seven (93%) of 94 indium–tin oxide facility workers (median tenure, 2 yr; median plasma indium, 1.0 μg/l) participated in the study. Spirometric abnormalities were not increased compared with the general population, and few subjects had radiographic evidence of alveolar proteinosis (n = 0), fibrosis (n = 2), or emphysema (n = 4). However, in internal comparisons, participants with plasma indium concentrations ≥1.0 μg/l had more dyspnea, lower mean FEV1 and FVC, and higher median serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 and surfactant protein-D levels. Spline regression demonstrated nonlinear exposure response, with significant differences occurring at plasma indium concentrations as low as 1.0 μg/l compared with the reference. Associations between health outcomes and the natural log of plasma indium concentration were evident in linear regression models. Associations were not explained by age, smoking status, facility tenure, or prior occupational exposures. Conclusions In indium–tin oxide facility workers with short-term, low-level exposure, plasma indium concentrations lower than previously reported were associated with lung symptoms, decreased spirometric parameters, and increased serum biomarkers of lung disease.
Subject:
[+]
Adult
Asthma
Biological Markers
Dyspnea
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mucin-1
Occupational Exposure
Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis
Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D
Respiratory Sounds
Spirometry
Tin Compounds
Vital Capacity

Source:
Ann Am Thorac Soc. 11(9):1395-1403. ;
Pubmed ID:
25295756
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4645993
Document Type:
Journal Article ;
Funding:
CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States ; R01 HL085453/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL118342/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ;
CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States ; R01 HL085453/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL118342/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; Less -
Place as Subject:
United States ;
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:addb2ddbd148b38d4dd22515444abc9244157eff4c990d4116805f810732717f
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	NIHMS719138-supplement-data.pdf	pdf
  	NIHMS719138-supplement-disclosures.pdf	pdf
  	nihms719138.nxml	bin
  	nihms719138f1.gif	gif
  	nihms719138f1.jpg	jpeg

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