Interstitial lung disease in coppersmiths in high serum copper levels.
Coppersmith is a worker who uses copper most commonly for the production of kitchen appliances in Turkey. This is an ancient occupation practiced for centuries in Turkey. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of parenchymal lung diseases among coppersmiths in Kahramanmaras city in Turkey. Thirty coppersmiths were included to the study, and they all signed an informed consent. Demographics, spirometric test results and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans, and blood samples were obtained. Laboratory analysis of the serum samples showed that serum copper levels of the subjects were 0.93 +/- 0.14 mg/L. Serum copper level in control group was found as 0.70 +/- 0.14 mg/L, and it was significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). Of 30 coppersmiths, 17 HRCT findings are abnormal and seen with diffuse parenchymal interstitial lung disease pattern-ten (58.8%) respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease, five (29.4%) nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, and two (11.8%) usual interstitial pneumonia. The most prevalent HRCT pattern was micronodular pattern in workers. This is the first field study reporting the radiologic findings of coppersmiths and effect of the occupation on lung diseases.
Dagli
Canan Eren
CE
Chest Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
Tanrikulu
Abdullah Cetin
AC
Koksal
Nurhan
N
Abakay
Abdurrahman
A
Gelen
Mehmet Emin
ME
Demirpolat
Gulen
G
Yuksel
Murvet
M
Atilla
Nurhan
N
Tolun
Fatma Inanc
FI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D003300:Copper