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Inflammatory responses to the occupational inhalation of metal fume

Inflammatory responses to the occupational inhalation of metal fume
Inflammatory responses to the occupational inhalation of metal fume
Occupational exposure to metal fume promotes a reversible increase in the risk of pneumonia, but by mechanisms which are unclear. To investigate, the current authors measured various markers of host defence function in welders and nonwelders.
Induced sputum and venous blood samples were collected from 27 welders with regular longterm exposure to ferrous metal fume and 31 unexposed matched controls. In sputum, the present authors measured cell counts, the soluble and cellular iron concentration, and levels of interleukin-8, tumour necrosis factor-a, myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinase-9, immunoglobulin (Ig)A, a2-macroglobulin and unsaturated iron-binding capacity. Blood samples were assayed for evidence of neutrophil activation and pneumococcal IgG antibodies.
Welders had significantly higher iron levels and a substantially lower unsaturated iron-binding capacity in their sputum, but, despite a high iron challenge, there was a noteworthy absence of an inflammatory response. Only blood counts of eosinophils and basophils were significantly related to the extent of welding. Weak nonsignificant trends were observed for several other measures, consistent with low-grade priming of neutrophils.
In conclusion, these data suggest that chronic exposure to metal fume blunts responsiveness to inhaled particulate matter. However, the mechanism behind the lack of detectable local inflammatory response requires further investigation.
inflammation, metal fume, occupational, pneumonia, welding
0903-1936
366-373
Palmer, K.T.
0cfe63f0-1d33-40ff-ae8c-6c33601df850
Neill-Love, R.
010722ed-03ed-461e-ac60-8d6814bb26ba
Poole, J.R.
9e7d4389-cddd-46bf-add2-bd6225538897
Coggon, D.
2b43ce0a-cc61-4d86-b15d-794208ffa5d3
Frew, A.J.
c00e9630-a5f0-44b3-add0-44b68836bbcb
Linaker, C.H.
6c6d1b90-ee40-4c96-8b2e-b06efbe030ae
Shute, J.K.
21aa47b2-7a14-4706-981d-f6cc6be58bf4
Palmer, K.T.
0cfe63f0-1d33-40ff-ae8c-6c33601df850
Neill-Love, R.
010722ed-03ed-461e-ac60-8d6814bb26ba
Poole, J.R.
9e7d4389-cddd-46bf-add2-bd6225538897
Coggon, D.
2b43ce0a-cc61-4d86-b15d-794208ffa5d3
Frew, A.J.
c00e9630-a5f0-44b3-add0-44b68836bbcb
Linaker, C.H.
6c6d1b90-ee40-4c96-8b2e-b06efbe030ae
Shute, J.K.
21aa47b2-7a14-4706-981d-f6cc6be58bf4

Palmer, K.T., Neill-Love, R., Poole, J.R., Coggon, D., Frew, A.J., Linaker, C.H. and Shute, J.K. (2006) Inflammatory responses to the occupational inhalation of metal fume. European Respiratory Journal, 27 (2), 366-373. (doi:10.1183/09031936.06.00053205).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Occupational exposure to metal fume promotes a reversible increase in the risk of pneumonia, but by mechanisms which are unclear. To investigate, the current authors measured various markers of host defence function in welders and nonwelders.
Induced sputum and venous blood samples were collected from 27 welders with regular longterm exposure to ferrous metal fume and 31 unexposed matched controls. In sputum, the present authors measured cell counts, the soluble and cellular iron concentration, and levels of interleukin-8, tumour necrosis factor-a, myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinase-9, immunoglobulin (Ig)A, a2-macroglobulin and unsaturated iron-binding capacity. Blood samples were assayed for evidence of neutrophil activation and pneumococcal IgG antibodies.
Welders had significantly higher iron levels and a substantially lower unsaturated iron-binding capacity in their sputum, but, despite a high iron challenge, there was a noteworthy absence of an inflammatory response. Only blood counts of eosinophils and basophils were significantly related to the extent of welding. Weak nonsignificant trends were observed for several other measures, consistent with low-grade priming of neutrophils.
In conclusion, these data suggest that chronic exposure to metal fume blunts responsiveness to inhaled particulate matter. However, the mechanism behind the lack of detectable local inflammatory response requires further investigation.

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More information

Published date: 2006
Keywords: inflammation, metal fume, occupational, pneumonia, welding

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 24453
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24453
ISSN: 0903-1936
PURE UUID: 74821652-e465-4a2b-acff-12a732453b8f
ORCID for D. Coggon: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1930-3987
ORCID for C.H. Linaker: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1091-9283

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 29 Mar 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:53

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Contributors

Author: K.T. Palmer
Author: R. Neill-Love
Author: J.R. Poole
Author: D. Coggon ORCID iD
Author: A.J. Frew
Author: C.H. Linaker ORCID iD
Author: J.K. Shute

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