title: Assessment of health effects related to fiber glass exposure in fiber glass workers: exhaled biomarkers eCO, FENO and their usefulness in the occupational environment testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous epidemiological animal model studies have been conducted in order to assess the health effects of man-made vitreous fibers. They have been shown to be responsible for producing lung fibrosis and lung and peritoneal cancer in animal models. A few large cohort studies were conducted in Europe and the US to assess the health effects of fiber glass in production workers and a higher cancer incidence was evidenced.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to assess the usefulness of exhaled biomarkers measurements: exhaled nitric oxide and exhaled carbon monoxide in fiber glass workers as indicators of an inflammatory airway response.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 fiber glass workers were included in this study with a minimum of 5 year exposure period in which FENO and eCO values were measured. Also spirometry chest X ray, C reactive protein, fibrinogen, total IgE serum and IL8 serum levels were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased values of exhaled nitric oxide (over 25 ppb) were found in 43% of the fiber glass workers and increased values of exhaled carbon monoxide (over 6 ppm) were determined in 26% of the fiber glass workers. A positive correlation was found between the exposure period and FENO values and total IgE values (p<0.05). A negative correlation coefficient was found between FEF 25-75 predictive values and FENO and total IgE values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that exhaled biomarkers can be useful to assess an inflammatory airway response in the occupational environment.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonology Department, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Bianca Domokos
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hancu
authors.affiliation: Pulmonology Department, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pop
keywords: exhaled biomarkers; fiber glass