Inflammatory responses and oxidative stress from metal fume exposure in automobile welders.
OBJECTIVE
: Welding operations expose to metal fume. We investigated the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress from metal fume exposure in an automobile plant.


METHODS
: We recruited 258 automobile workers and measured the urine zinc, copper, and nickel to determine the exposure level, and examined the white blood cells, and IL-6 as inflammatory responses to the metal fume exposure. We also examined the relationship between glutathione (GSH) and metals exposure.


RESULTS
: There were significant association between urine metals levels and welding hours. Zinc was significantly associated with blood white cells, interleukin-6, and GSH. Copper was significantly associated with GSH, but nickel was significantly inversely associated with GSH.


CONCLUSIONS
: Automobile welders appear to have significant metals exposure. White blood cells and IL-6 might be involved in inflammatory process of zinc fume exposure with zinc and copper increasing GSH, but nickel depleting it.
Luo
Jiin-Chyuan John
JC
Laboratory of Occupational Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, People's Republic of China. luo5485@giga.net.tw
Hsu
Kuang-Hung
KH
Shen
Wu-Shiun
WS
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D001336:Automobiles; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014896:Welding; D055815:Young Adult
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D005978:Glutathione