title: A cohort study of toner-handling workers on inflammatory, allergic, and oxidative stress markers: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses from 2003 to 2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the relationship between toner exposure and its health effects in terms of biomarkers which are known to assess the damages to humans caused by toxic material exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 1504 male workers aged below 50 in 2003 in a Japanese toner and photocopier manufacturing company. Personal exposure measurements, pulmonary function tests, chest X-ray examinations, biomarker measurement, and a questionnaire about respiratory symptoms were conducted. We will report about biomarker measurement in this study. Cross-sectional survey studies and a longitudinal study from 2003 to 2008 were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few significant findings were associated with the toner exposure in both the cross-sectional and the longitudinal studies. The higher toner exposure concentrations did not induce effects on increasing biomarkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no evidence of excessive inflammatory, allergic, or oxidative stress reaction in toner-handling workers as compared to non-handling workers, despite some sporadically significant findings. There are no other reports of a longitudinal epidemiological study with regard to toner exposure; this report significantly contributes to toner exposure literature. Although in the current well-controlled working environment, the toner exposure concentrations are quite low; further studies are needed to completely understand the health effects toner may have, however small they may be.
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan h-kita@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kitamura
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Terunuma
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kurosaki
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hata
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Masuda
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kochi
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Yanagi
authors: Department of Haematology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Hachioji, Japan.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Murase
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ogami
authors: Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Science, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Higashi
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002617:Chemical Industry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011327:Printing
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003849:Deoxyguanosine
keywords: Inhalation toxicology/pulmonary toxicology; biomarkers/exposure assessment; epidemiology