title: Interstitial lung disease in coppersmiths in high serum copper levels.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Chest Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
authors.forename: Canan Eren
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dagli
authors.forename: Abdullah Cetin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tanrikulu
authors.forename: Nurhan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koksal
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abakay
authors.forename: Mehmet Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gelen
authors.forename: Gulen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demirpolat
authors.forename: Murvet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Nurhan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Atilla
authors.forename: Fatma Inanc
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Tolun
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003300:Copper