title: Gas and dust exposure in underground construction is associated with signs of airway inflammation.
abstract: Exposure to gases and dust may induce airway inflammation. It was hypothesized that heavy construction workers who had been exposed to dust and gases in underground construction work for 1 yr, would have early signs of upper and lower airway inflammation, as compared to outdoor workers. A study group comprising 29 nonsmoking underground concrete workers (mean +/- SD age 44+/-12 yrs), and a reference group of 26 outdoor concrete workers (39+/-12 yrs) were examined by acoustic rhinometry, nasal and exhaled nitric oxide spirometry and a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Exposure measurements were carried out. The underground workers had higher exposure to total and respirable dust, alpha-quartz and nitrogen dioxide than the references (p<0.001). The occurrence of respiratory symptoms was higher in the underground workers than in the references (p<0.05). Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) (geometric mean+/-SEM) was higher in the underground workers than in the references (8.4+/-1.09 versus 5.6+/-1.07 parts per billion (ppb), p = 0.001), whereas spirometric values were comparable. The underground workers had smaller nasal cross-sectional area and volume than the references, and more pronounced increases after decongestion (p<0.001). To conclude the exposure in underground construction may cause nasal mucosal swelling and increased levels of exhaled nitric oxide, indicating signs of upper and lower airway inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Selmer ASA, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulvestad
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakke
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Djupesland
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kongerud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boe
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000276:immunology*; D003252:Construction Materials; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005740:Gases / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D005740:Gases