PMID- 17402216
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20070417
LR  - 20191110
IS  - 1232-1087 (Print)
IS  - 1232-1087 (Linking)
VI  - 19
IP  - 4
DP  - 2006
TI  - Serum Clara cell protein as an indicator of pulmonary impairment in occupational 
      exposure at aluminum foundry.
PG  - 211-23
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Although some of the exposures in aluminum (Al) smelting have been 
      well characterized, and respiratory disorders in aluminum production workers are 
      well known, the relationship between internal aluminum loads and appropriate lung 
      biomarkers have not been elucidated. The aim of our work was to carry out a 
      comprehensive investigation in workers employed in the Aluminum Foundry Casting 
      Department with special reference to currently existing hygiene standards, known 
      as threshold limit values (TLV) based on aluminum effects on the respiratory 
      system. The measurement of serum anti-inflammatory Clara cell protein (CC16) was 
      employed as a peripheral marker of the lung epithelium function. MATERIALS AND 
      METHODS: A group of 50 casting smelters, 5 locksmiths, 11 sawyers and auxiliary 
      workers exposed to dust containing 14% of aluminum, and a group of 42 controls 
      were examined. Respiratory function tests were performed and forced volume 
      capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced expiratory volume 
      in the first percent (FEV1%), forced expiratory flows in 50% VC (FEV50), and 
      markers of foundry workers' exposure and body burden, Al concentration in the 
      breathing zone, blood and urine, biomarkers of the effects of exposure, 
      concentration of CC16 and hyaluronic acid (HA) in serum were determined in all 
      examined workers. Additional measurements comprised determinations of serum iron 
      (Fe) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), 
      immunoglobulin E (IgE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase 
      (SOD) activity in erythrocytes. RESULTS: The group of casting smelters was 
      characterized by the highest levels of aluminum in urine (Al-U) (43.7 microg 
      L(-1)), high levels of MPO, ECP and IgE, high SOD activity, low CC16 levels, and 
      low activity of GST. Lower Al-U excretion was observed in locksmiths (35.2 microg 
      L(-1)) and sawyers (21.7 microg L(-1)). Serum CC16 proved to be the most 
      sensitive biomarker, showing high inverse relationship with serum Al (Al-S) 
      concentrations in casting smelters (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed 
      that in conditions of occupational exposure, dusts containing Al2O3 < 1 mg m(-3) 
      cause changes in the respiratory system and biomarkers in serum, especially in 
      CC16, connected with altered functioning of this system. Changes in 
      concentrations of the examined biomarkers and also in respiratory parameters of 
      the study subjects were observed when Al-U concentration was > 40 microg L (-1).
FAU - Halatek, Tadeusz
AU  - Halatek T
AD  - Department of Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Nofer Institute of Occupational 
      Medicine, lodz, Poland. halatek@imp.lodz.pl
FAU - Trzcinka-Ochocka, Malgorzata
AU  - Trzcinka-Ochocka M
FAU - Matczak, Wanda
AU  - Matczak W
FAU - Gruchala, Jacek
AU  - Gruchala J
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - Poland
TA  - Int J Occup Med Environ Health
JT  - International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health
JID - 9437093
RN  - 0 (Air Pollutants, Occupational)
RN  - 0 (Biomarkers)
RN  - 0 (Dust)
RN  - 0 (SCGB1A1 protein, human)
RN  - 9060-09-7 (Uteroglobin)
RN  - CPD4NFA903 (Aluminum)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Air Pollutants, Occupational/*adverse effects/analysis
MH  - Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects/analysis
MH  - Aluminum/*adverse effects/blood/urine
MH  - Biomarkers/blood
MH  - Dust/analysis
MH  - Environmental Monitoring/methods
MH  - Forced Expiratory Volume
MH  - Humans
MH  - Lung Diseases/etiology
MH  - Male
MH  - Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate
MH  - *Metallurgy
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects/analysis
MH  - Spirometry
MH  - Uteroglobin/*blood
EDAT- 2007/04/04 09:00
MHDA- 2007/04/18 09:00
CRDT- 2007/04/04 09:00
PHST- 2007/04/04 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2007/04/18 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2007/04/04 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.2478/v10001-006-0033-6 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2006;19(4):211-23. doi: 
      10.2478/v10001-006-0033-6.