Immunological findings in a group of coke-oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
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.
Wu
Ming-Tsang
MT
Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. mingtsangwu@yahoo.com
Pan
Chih-Hong
CH
Wu
Trong-Neng
TN
Huang
Yeou-Lih
YL
Chen
Ching-Yi
CY
Huang
Li-Hung
LH
Ho
Chi-Kung
CK
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
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003077:Coke; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014815:Vitamins