title: Are serum eosinophilic cationic protein levels of toll collectors affected by diesel exhaust exposure?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are few studies on the diesel exhaust particulates (DEP) / eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) level relationship. This study aimed to detect ECP levels in a highly DE exposed group, named as toll collectors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, levels of serum ECP, rates of respiratory symptoms, mean levels of respiratory functions, smoking status, and variations in peak expiratory flow (PEF) during weekends and working days were compared for 68 toll collectors (TC) (range of age, 24-48 years) and 28 controls (range of age, 25-61 years). All subjects in the study group were men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was observed in terms of symptoms and smoking rates between the toll collectors and control group. The number of toll collectors [12/68 (17.7%) vs 1/28 (3.5%)] with diurnal PEF variability in the working period was higher than that of controls (p=0.058). Mean ECP level of toll collectors was higher than that of controls (32.8 vs 21.4 ng/L), but the difference was not significant. Mean ECP levels were higher in subjects experiencing diurnal PEF variability during work and off-work periods (34.9 vs 28.3 ng/L, p=0.410).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serial PEF measurements combined with serum ECP measurements did not add a new tool to detect the sensitivity of workers dealing with DE. Much more diesel exhaust exposed workers should be included to search for cheap and available methods when evaluating airway.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Cahit Bilgin, MD. Assistant Professor, Department of Chest Diseases, Sakarya University, Medical School, Sakarya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Peri Arbak, MD. Department of Chest Diseases, Duzce University, Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Peri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arbak
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Ozlem Yavuz, MD. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Balikesir University, Medical School, Balikesir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ege Gulec Balbay, MD. Associate Professor, Department of Chest Diseases, Duzce University, Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ege Gulec
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Balbay
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Oner Balbay, MD. Department of Chest Diseases, Duzce University, Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oner
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Balbay
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Ali Nihat Annakkaya, MD. Department of Chest Diseases, Duzce University, Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Nihat
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Annakkaya
keywords: Diesel exhaust; ECP; PEF variability; Pulmonary function; Toll collectors