title: Immunological findings in a group of coke-oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
abstract: Coke-oven workers are exposed to a high concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may change the immunologic responses. In this study, we evaluated humoral immunity by measuring serum IgA, IgE, IgG, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in 251 coke-oven workers and 89 rolling steel workers in Taiwan. Mean values of serum IgE and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were 178.8 IU/mL and 8.4 pg/mL in coke-oven workers, respectively, which were significantly higher than in rolling steel workers (102.6 IU/mL and 2.0 pg/mL; P=0.003 and <0.001). In contrast, serum IgA levels were significantly lower in coke-oven workers than in rolling steel workers (mean=264.7 vs 312.0 mg/dL, P<0.001). Our findings suggest that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure may alter the immune responses in coke-oven workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. mingtsangwu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ming-Tsang
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chih-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Trong-Neng
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yeou-Lih
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ching-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Hung
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chi-Kung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003077:Coke; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003077:Coke; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014815:Vitamins