title: [Non-invasive assessment of lung pathobiology in hairdressers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hairdressers are exposed to chemical agents with potentially irritant and sensitizing effects on airways.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To asses the presence of respiratory symptoms and biochemical and functional changes of the airways in a cohort of hairdressers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respiratory symptoms, lung function tests, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)50) and selected oxidative stress biomarkers [hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)] in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were assessed in 23 hairdressers on a rest day (Group 1); 12 workers (Group 2) were willing to perform the same tests at the beginning (BS) and at the end of a shift (ES) on the same working day. Eighteen subjects not occupationally exposed to airways irritants formed the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the hairdressers reported respiratory symptoms during work; however, all (except one) showed normal spirometry indexes. FE(NO)50 levels were within the reference limits and did not change comparing BS vs. ES sampling. H2O2 and HNE values in EBC were higher in Group 1 (H2O2: 0,16 [0,05-0,19] microM; HNE: 0,94 [0,82-1,22] nM) than in controls (H2O2: 0,05 [0,02-0,09] microM; HNE: 0,61 [0,49-0,78] nM, p < 0,001). In Group 2, H2O2 and MDA levels were higher in EBC collected at ES (0,56 [0,23-3,62] mM and 5,21 [4,93-5,95] nM) in comparison with the BS values (0,11 [0,03-0,28] mM and 4,12 [3,46-5,16] nM, p < 0,001 and p < 0,02, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers are detectable in EBC of hairdressers, without impairment in respiratory function. Exhaled biomarkers of oxidative stress may be sensitive end points for evaluating early biochemical changes in the airways of hairdressers.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Clinica Medica, Nefrologia e Scienze della Prevenzione, Università degli Studi di Parma.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corradi
authors.forename: Maria del Mar Jordana
authors.initials: Mdel M
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Acampa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caglieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldoni
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mutti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001461:Barbering; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*