title: Relationships between respiratory function disorders and serum copper levels in copper mineworkers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the respiratory function disorders that could be related to dust exposure during the production of copper mine in copper mineworkers (CMWs). The study included 75 male CMWs (mean age, 32.0 ± 7.1 years, 58.6% smokers) and 75 male age- and smoking status-matched healthy control subjects. Serum Cu level was significantly higher in the CMW group (0.80 ± 0.62 μg/ml) than the control group (0.60 ± 0.39 μg/ml) (p = 0.017). Significant negative correlations were found between serum Cu level and forced expiratory volume in first second (r = -0.600; p < 0.001) and between serum Cu level and forced vital capacity (r = -0.593; p = <0.001) in CMWs. Serum Cu level was significantly higher in the restrictive type pulmonary function disorders group (1.36 ± 0.62 μg/ml) than obstructive type (0.90 ± 0.55 μg/ml) and normal pulmonary function pattern group (0.53 ± 0.43 μg/ml) (p < 0.001). Patients with radiological parenchymal abnormalities had significantly higher serum copper levels than those without abnormalities (1.53 ± 0.52 vs. 0.71 ± 0.52 μg/ml, respectively; p = 0.002). In conclusion, result of the study has shown a negative association between pulmonary functions disorders and radiological abnormalities and serum Cu levels in CMWs.
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. arahmanabakay@hotmail.com
authors: Abdurrahman
authors: A
authors: Abakay
authors: Osman
authors: O
authors: Gokalp
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Abakay
authors: Osman
authors: O
authors: Evliyaoglu
authors: Cengizhan
authors: C
authors: Sezgi
authors: Yilmaz
authors: Y
authors: Palanci
authors: Faysal
authors: F
authors: Ekici
authors: Askeri
authors: A
authors: Karakus
authors: Abdullah C
authors: AC
authors: Tanrikulu
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Ayhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D003300:Copper