Investigation of the relative contributions of cigarette smoking and mineral dust exposure to activation of circulating phagocytes, alterations in plasma concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene, and pulmonary dysfunction in South African gold miners.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative effects of cigarette smoking and mineral dust exposure on numbers and activity of circulating phagocytes, plasma nutritional antioxidant state, and pulmonary function in South African gold miners.


METHODS
Pulmonary function was assessed spirometrically, whereas reactive oxidant generation by circulating phagocytes, and plasma concentrations of the nutritional antioxidative nutrients vitamin C and vitamin E and beta carotene were measured with chemiluminescence, spectrophotometry, or high performance liquid chromatography respectively.


RESULTS
Cigarette smoking, but not mineral dust exposure, was associated with increased numbers and pro-oxidative activity of circulating neutrophils and monocytes, decreased plasma concentrations of vitamin C, and pulmonary dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study group occupational exposure to mineral dust has not been found to promote increases in the numbers or reactivity of circulating phagocytes or to be a significant cause of pulmonary dysfunction, the changes found being due primarily to cigarette smoking.
Department of Immunology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
A J
AJ
Theron
G A
GA
Richards
M S
MS
Myer
V L
VL
van Antwerpen
G K
GK
Sluis-Cremer
L
L
Wolmarans
C A
CA
van der Merwe
R
R
Anderson
D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004391:Dust; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D013019:South Africa; D013147:Spirometry; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene
D004391:Dust; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D006046:Gold; D001205:Ascorbic Acid