Pulmonary fibrosis in an individual occupationally exposed to inhaled indium-tin oxide.
Despite the increasing industrial use of indium-tin oxide (ITO) to manufacture flat-panel displays, such as liquid-crystal displays or plasma display panels for televisions, little is known about the potential health hazard induced by occupational exposure to indium compounds. The current study describes a case of fibrotic lung disease that developed after a 4-yr exposure to ITO. The pathology of the lung demonstrated pulmonary fibrosis with the presence of cholesterol granulomas. In conclusion, more attention needs to be paid to the possible toxic effects of indium compounds, and maximum healthcare measures should be taken to protect industry workers from these toxicities.
Homma
S
S
Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Toranomon Hospital, Toranomon 2-2-2, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8470, Japan. sa-homma@toranomon.gr.jp
Miyamoto
A
A
Sakamoto
S
S
Kishi
K
K
Motoi
N
N
Yoshimura
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011379:Prognosis; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D017971:Tin Compounds; C109984:indium tin oxide