Blood eosinophils in workers with aluminum potroom asthma are increased to higher levels in non-smokers than in smokers.
BACKGROUND
Aluminum potroom asthma (PA) has been described in several reports. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood eosinophils and PA.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, 338 workers were examined as follows: spirometry, blood eosinophils, skin prick test, and work exposure measurements. They also completed a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, smoking, allergy, and duration of work exposure.


RESULTS
The odds ratio for PA was 4.2 (95% confidence interval 1.5-9.7) for workers with eosinophils > or =400 x 10(6) cells/L compared with workers with eosinophils <200 x 10(6) cells/L. In non-smokers, the number of eosinophils was 177 x 10(6) cells/L (P < 0.001) higher among workers with PA than asymptomatic workers, whereas the corresponding difference among current smokers was only 63 x 10(6) cells/L (P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PA was positively associated with blood eosinophils. An attenuation of the blood eosinophil increase was observed in smoking asthmatics, suggesting an immune-modulating effect of smoking.
Sjåheim
Tone
T
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center, Oslo, Norway. tonebs@odont.uio.no
Kongerud
Johny
J
Søyseth
Vidar
V
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000276:immunology; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000633:toxicity*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000633:toxicity*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014797:Vital Capacity
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D004391:Dust; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C007157:cryolite; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D005459:Fluorides; C032311:aluminum fluoride