Biomaterial Database

Respiratory Health and Inflammatory Markers-Exposure to Cobalt in the Swedish Hard Metal Industry. 2020

Lena Andersson, and Alexander Hedbrant, and Ing-Liss Bryngelsson, and Alexander Persson, and Anders Johansson, and Annette Ericsson, and Per Vihlborg, and Bengt Sjögren, and Eva Särndahl, and Leo Stockfelt, and Håkan Westberg

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).

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. 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. 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. 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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008669	Metallurgy	The science, art, or technology dealing with processes involved in the separation of metals from their ores, the technique of making or compounding the alloys, the techniques of working or heat-treating metals, and the mining of metals. It includes industrial metallurgy as well as metallurgical techniques employed in the preparation and working of metals used in dentistry, with special reference to orthodontic and prosthodontic appliances. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p494)	Heavy Industries,Industries, Heavy,Heavy Industry,Industry, Heavy
D003035	Cobalt	A trace element that is a component of vitamin B12. It has the atomic symbol Co, atomic number 27, and atomic weight 58.93. It is used in nuclear weapons, alloys, and pigments. Deficiency in animals leads to anemia; its excess in humans can lead to erythrocytosis.	Cobalt-59,Cobalt 59
D004391	Dust	Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000395	Air Pollutants, Occupational	Toxic air-borne matter related to work performed They are usually produced by the specific nature of the occupation.	Occupational Air Pollutants,Pollutants, Occupational Air
D000497	Alloys	A mixture of metallic elements or compounds with other metallic or metalloid elements in varying proportions.	Alloy
D013548	Sweden	Country in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Finland and Norway. The capital is Stockholm.
D014414	Tungsten	A metallic element with the atomic symbol W, atomic number 74, and atomic weight 183.85. It is used in many manufacturing applications, including increasing the hardness, toughness, and tensile strength of steel; manufacture of filaments for incandescent light bulbs; and in contact points for automotive and electrical apparatus.	Wolfram
D016273	Occupational Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation.	Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures