title: Interstitial lung disorders in the indium workers of Korea: an update study for the relationship with biological exposure indices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Korea is one of the highest indium-consuming countries worldwide. The present study aims to determine the relationship between interstitial lung disorders and indium exposure in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 50 indium workers from seven plants, the effect of serum indium on the lungs was determined using laboratory tests, spirometry, and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher serum indium and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) levels were associated with HRCT-detected interstitial lung changes. Workers with high serum indium levels (≥3 µg/L) had longer exposure durations and a higher prevalence of HRCT-detected interstitial lung changes. KL-6 and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) levels were significantly higher in the highest serum indium quartile than the lowest quartile. Significant dose-effect relationships existed between serum indium levels and KL-6, SP-D levels and the prevalence of HRCT-detected interstitial lung changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workforce medical surveillance should be established to prevent indium-induced interstitial lung disease in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungyeul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yong Lim
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Dohyung
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoon Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jai-Soung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyoung-Ryoul
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Im
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sang-Gil
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007204:Indium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D007204:Indium
keywords: Krebs von den Lungen-6; high-resolution computed tomography; indium; interstitial lung disease; occupational exposure