title: Pulmonary inflammation in foundry workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether cumulative dust exposure in foundry work is associated with airway inflammation measured by the analysis of fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentration, or by inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate or serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 476 dust-exposed and nonexposed foundry workers, and assessed the individual cumulative exposure to dusts and respirable quartz. Bronchial and alveolar NO production and inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate and in serum samples were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for pack-years of smoking, increased levels of alveolar NO, serum C-reactive protein, and interleukin-8 were associated with a higher level of cumulative exposure to dust. The referents had higher serum myeloperoxidase levels, bronchial NO output, and 8-isoprostane levels in exhaled breath condensate than in the dust-exposed groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dust exposure in foundry work may induce both systemic and alveolar inflammation.
authors: From the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Dr Koskela, Dr Oksa, Dr Sauni, Dr Linnainmaa, Ms Toivio, Dr Luukkonen, and Dr Uitti); The Out-patient Clinic of Occupational Medicine (Dr Koskela and Dr Uitti), Tampere University Hospital; and The Immunopharmacology Research Group (Dr Moilanen, Drs Lehtimäki and Nieminen), University of Tampere School of Medicine and Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
authors: Kirsi
authors: K
authors: Koskela
authors: Panu
authors: P
authors: Oksa
authors: Riitta
authors: R
authors: Sauni
authors: Markku
authors: M
authors: Linnainmaa
authors: Pauliina
authors: P
authors: Toivio
authors: Lauri
authors: L
authors: Lehtimäki
authors: Eeva
authors: E
authors: Moilanen
authors: Riina
authors: R
authors: Nieminen
authors: Ritva
authors: R
authors: Luukkonen
authors: Jukka
authors: J
authors: Uitti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004391:Dust; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein