[Indicators of pulmonary epithelial damage among workers at a foundry exposed to airborne pollutants].
Foundry ambient air contains very high concentrations of noxious substances, such as particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, which can target the respiratory epithelium. Serum concentrations of the 16-kDa Clara cell protein (CC16-S) may reflect both the integrity of the epithelial barrier and smoke-induced Clara cell toxicity. To evaluate whether CC16-S is a sensitive biomarker of early respiratory disturbances, it was determined in a group of 35 foundry male workers (aged 41.1 +/- 6.9 years) examined both prior to and at the end of their work-shift (06:00 a.m.-02:00 p.m.). Exposure to inhalable/respirable dusts and PAH was characterized; urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-P) and naphtol was measured to assess exposure to pyrene and naphthalene, respectively. CC16 serum levels decreased at the end of the shift (10.7 +/- 3.82 micrograms/L vs. 8.39 +/- 3.05 micrograms/L; p < 0.01); such decrements were significantly larger in more exposed workers. Although smokers had lower baseline values as compared to non smokers, both subgroups showed an average decrease of 30% in CC16-S concentrations at the end of shift. CC16-S was also negatively correlated with 1-OH-P, but not with naphtol concentrations. Decreased CC16-S levels can result from citotoxicity and would represent an useful biomarker of pneumotoxicity in foundry workers exposed to complex mixtures.
Bergamaschi
E
E
Sezione di Medicina del Lavoro e Laboratorio di Tossicologia Industriale, Dipartimento di Clinica Medica, Nefrologia e Scienze della Prevenzione, Università degli Studi di Parma.
Apostoli
P
P
Catalani
S
S
Festa
D
D
Folesani
G
G
Andreoli
R
R
Manini
P
P
Schenato
S
S
DePalma
G
G
Franchini
I
I
Bernard
A
A
Mutti
A
A
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*