title: Induced sputum, exhaled breath condensate and nasal lavage fluid in electroplating workers exposed to chromium.
abstract: Occupational exposure to chromium may cause airway inflammation and bronchial asthma. In this study we investigated the effect of chromium on the respiratory tract of exposed and non-exposed electroplating workers using spirometry and analysis of induced sputum (IS), exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and nasal lavage fluid (NLF). In both groups spirometry was normal; chromium in induced sputum was higher in exposed workers (7.90 +/- 0.855 microg/L, vs 1.78 +/- 0.075 microg/L; p<0.001); no significant difference was found in induced sputum cellularity. Median nitrite concentration in EBC was significantly higher in exposed subjects (4.35 micromol/L, 5 degrees -95 degrees percentile: 1.88-10.13 vs 0.11 micromol/L, 5-95 percentile: 0-0.72) (p<0.001). IL-6 and TNF-alpha were not detectable in EBC. Median IL-6 concentration in nasal lavage fluid was higher in exposed workers (5.72 pg/ml, 5-95 percentile: 0-65.25 pg/ml vs 0.28 pg/ml, 5-95 percentile: 0-1.7 pg/ml) (p<0.01). No differences in Eosinophil Cationic Protein concentration were found. TNF-alpha was not detectable in NLF. Chromium in induced sputum correlated with nitrites in EBC. For the first time three non-invasive methods were used to assess changes in respiratory tract in workers exposed to chromium. The results suggest chromium exerts an inflammatory/irritative action on airways.
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Respiratory Diseases and Toxicology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. nicola.murgia@med.unipg.it
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell' Omo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montuschi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciabattoni
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Abbritti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orazi
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Sapia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbritti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D002857:Chromium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004595:Electroplating; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D009573:Nitrites; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002857:Chromium