Lena Andersson1, Alexander Hedbrant, Ing-Liss Bryngelsson, Alexander Persson, Anders Johansson, Annette Ericsson, Per Vihlborg, Bengt Sjögren, Eva Särndahl, Leo Stockfelt, Håkan Westberg. 1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE 701 82 Örebro, Sweden (Dr Lena Andersson, Ing-Liss Bryngelsson, Anders Johansson, Annette Ericsson, Per Vihlborg, Håkan Westberg); School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden (Dr Lena Andersson, Dr Alexander Hedbrant, Dr Alexander Persson, Eva Särndahl, Håkan Westberg); Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden (Dr Lena Andersson, Dr Alexander Hedbrant, Dr Alexander Persson, Eva Särndahl, Håkan Westberg); Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden (Bengt Sjögren); Unit of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, PB 414, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden (Dr Leo Stockfelt).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between inhalable dust and cobalt, and respiratory symptoms, lung function, exhaled nitric oxide in expired air, and CC16 in the Swedish hard metal industry. METHODS: Personal sampling of inhalable dust and cobalt, and medical examination including blood sampling was performed for 72 workers. Exposure-response relationships were determined using logistic, linear, and mixed-model analysis. RESULTS: The average inhalable dust and cobalt concentrations were 0.079 and 0.0017 mg/m, respectively. Statistically significant increased serum levels of CC16 were determined when the high and low cumulative exposures for cobalt were compared. Nonsignificant exposure-response relationships were observed between cross-shift inhalable dust or cobalt exposures and asthma, nose dripping, and bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an exposure-response relationship between inhalable cumulative cobalt exposure and CC16 levels in blood, which may reflect an injury or a reparation process in the lungs.
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between inhalable dust and cobalt, and respiratory symptoms, lung function, exhaled nitric oxide in expired air, and CC16 in the Swedish hard metal industry. METHODS: Personal sampling of inhalable dust and cobalt, and medical examination including blood sampling was performed for 72 workers. Exposure-response relationships were determined using logistic, linear, and mixed-model analysis. RESULTS: The average inhalable dust and cobalt concentrations were 0.079 and 0.0017 mg/m, respectively. Statistically significant increased serum levels of CC16 were determined when the high and low cumulative exposures for cobalt were compared. Nonsignificant exposure-response relationships were observed between cross-shift inhalable dust or cobalt exposures and asthma, nose dripping, and bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an exposure-response relationship between inhalable cumulative cobalt exposure and CC16 levels in blood, which may reflect an injury or a reparation process in the lungs.