Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in workers at an indium processing facility.
Two cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, including one death, occurred in workers at a facility producing indium-tin oxide (ITO), a compound used in recent years to make flat panel displays. Both workers were exposed to airborne ITO dust and had indium in lung tissue specimens. One worker was tested for autoantibodies to granulocytemacrophage-colonystimulating factor (GM-CSF) and found to have an elevated level. These cases suggest that inhalational exposure to ITO causes pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, which may occur via an autoimmune mechanism.
Cummings
Kristin J
KJ
Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. cvx5@cdc.gov
Donat
Walter E
WE
Ettensohn
David B
DB
Roggli
Victor L
VL
Ingram
Peter
P
Kreiss
Kathleen
K
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011649:Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014481:United States
D001323:Autoantibodies; D017971:Tin Compounds; C109984:indium tin oxide; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor