Cross-sectional Study of Workers Employed at a Copper Smelter-Effects of Long-term Exposures to Copper on Lung Function and Chronic Inflammation

Overview

Journal J Occup Environ Med

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2022 Jul 28

PMID 35902212

Authors

Lisa-Marie Haase

Thomas Birk

Craig A Poland

Olaf Holz

Meike Muller

Annette M Bachand

Kenneth A Mundt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of exposure to copper-containing dust on lung function and inflammatory endpoints among workers of a German copper plant, effects rarely studied before.

Methods: One hundred four copper-exposed smelter workers and 70 referent workers from the precious metal and lead facilities were included, with different metal exposures in both groups due to the different process materials. Body plethysmography, exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements, and blood sampling were conducted in all workers. Smoking status and the use of respiratory protective equipment were considered. In a subgroup of 40 nonsmoking volunteers (28 copper-exposed and 12 referents), sputum biomarkers were assessed.

Results: Median lung function values of both copper-exposed and the referent groups were within reference ranges of "healthy" individuals, and statistical differences between the groups were mostly not evident. Similarly, differences in blood and sputum biomarkers were too small to be biologically relevant.

Conclusion: The results suggest the absence of the detectable effects of copper-containing dust exposure on lung function or chronic inflammation within the investigated cohort.

Citing Articles

Application of quantitative mineralogy to determine sources of airborne particles at a European copper smelter.

Kelvin M, Verpaele S, Gopalapillai Y, Poland C, Leybourne M, Layton-Matthews D Heliyon. 2023; 9(3):e13803.

PMID: 36879976 PMC: 9984790. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13803.

References

Himmerich H, Fulda S, Linseisen J, Seiler H, Wolfram G, Himmerich S . TNF-alpha, soluble TNF receptor and interleukin-6 plasma levels in the general population. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2006; 17(3):196-201. View

Charan N, Myers C, Lakshminarayan S, Spencer T . Pulmonary injuries associated with acute sulfur dioxide inhalation. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979; 119(4):555-60. DOI: 10.1164/arrd.1979.119.4.555. View

Schwartz J, Weiss S . Cigarette smoking and peripheral blood leukocyte differentials. Ann Epidemiol. 1994; 4(3):236-42. DOI: 10.1016/1047-2797(94)90102-3. View

Liu Q, Li Y, Yang F, Xu T, Yao L, Sun J . Distribution of serum amyloid A and establishment of reference intervals in healthy adults. J Clin Lab Anal. 2019; 34(4):e23120. PMC: 7171307. DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23120. View

Redlich C, Tarlo S, Hankinson J, Townsend M, Eschenbacher W, Von Essen S . Official American Thoracic Society technical standards: spirometry in the occupational setting. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2014; 189(8):983-93. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201402-0337ST. View

Backe E, Lotz G, Tittelbach U, Plitzko S, Gierke E, Schneider W . Immunological biomarkers in salt miners exposed to salt dust, diesel exhaust and nitrogen oxides. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2004; 77(5):319-27. DOI: 10.1007/s00420-004-0521-6. View

Guder G, Brenner S, Stork S, Held M, Broekhuizen B, Lammers J . Diagnostic and prognostic utility of mid-expiratory flow rate in older community-dwelling persons with respiratory symptoms, but without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BMC Pulm Med. 2015; 15:83. PMC: 4521503. DOI: 10.1186/s12890-015-0081-4. View

Dweik R, Boggs P, Erzurum S, Irvin C, Leigh M, Lundberg J . An official ATS clinical practice guideline: interpretation of exhaled nitric oxide levels (FENO) for clinical applications. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011; 184(5):602-15. PMC: 4408724. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.9120-11ST. View

Deneva-Koycheva T, Vladimirova-Kitova L, Angelova E, Tsvetkova T . Serum levels of siCAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, sP-selectin in healthy Bulgarian people. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2011; 53(2):22-8. DOI: 10.2478/v10153-010-0033-y. View

10.

Quanjer P, Weiner D, Pretto J, Brazzale D, Boros P . Measurement of FEF25-75% and FEF75% does not contribute to clinical decision making. Eur Respir J. 2013; 43(4):1051-8. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00128113. View

11.

LaKind J, Holgate S, Ownby D, Mansur A, Helms P, Pyatt D . A critical review of the use of Clara cell secretory protein (CC16) as a biomarker of acute or chronic pulmonary effects. Biomarkers. 2007; 12(5):445-67. DOI: 10.1080/13547500701359327. View

12.

Sun G, Ota C, Kitaoka S, Chiba Y, Takayanagi M, Kitamura T . Elevated serum levels of neutrophil elastase in patients with influenza virus-associated encephalopathy. J Neurol Sci. 2015; 349(1-2):190-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.01.017. View

13.

Criee C, Baur X, Berdel D, Bosch D, Gappa M, Haidl P . [Standardization of spirometry: 2015 update. Published by German Atemwegsliga, German Respiratory Society and German Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine]. Pneumologie. 2015; 69(3):147-64. DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1391345. View

14.

Gleason R . Exposure to copper dust. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1968; 29(5):461-2. DOI: 10.1080/00028896809343035. View

15.

Khan N, Lawyer G, McDonough S, Wang Q, Kassem N, Kas-Petrus F . Systemic biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and tissue injury and repair among waterpipe, cigarette and dual tobacco smokers. Tob Control. 2019; 29(Suppl 2):s102-s109. PMC: 7050420. DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-054958. View

16.

Carsin A, Fuertes E, Schaffner E, Jarvis D, Anto J, Heinrich J . Restrictive spirometry pattern is associated with low physical activity levels. A population based international study. Respir Med. 2019; 146:116-123. DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.11.017. View

17.

Spanevello A, Confalonieri M, Sulotto F, Romano F, Balzano G, Migliori G . Induced sputum cellularity. Reference values and distribution in normal volunteers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 162(3 Pt 1):1172-4. DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.162.3.9908057. View

18.

Kim Y, Kim H, Ahn H, Sohn T, Song J, Lee Y . The Association between Tobacco Smoke and Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels in Korean Adults. Intern Med. 2017; 56(19):2571-2577. PMC: 5658521. DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.8737-16. View

19.

Kleiner G, Marcuzzi A, Zanin V, Monasta L, Zauli G . Cytokine levels in the serum of healthy subjects. Mediators Inflamm. 2013; 2013:434010. PMC: 3606775. DOI: 10.1155/2013/434010. View

20.

Borak J, Cohen H, Hethmon T . Copper exposure and metal fume fever: lack of evidence for a causal relationship. AIHAJ. 2001; 61(6):832-6. DOI: 10.1080/15298660008984594. View