BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Hard metal lung disorders: analysis of a group of exposed workers. 1994

G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
Research Center on the Biological Effects of Inhaled Dusts, University of Milan, Italy.

The experience gained during the last 5 years in the study of 36 male workers exposed to hard metal dusts (10 engaged in mixing, 12 in presintering, three in sintering and 11 in grinding) is presented. The mean age was 33.2 years (S.D., 11.8) and the mean number of years of exposure was 9.4 (S.D., 7.6). All subjects received a physical examination, chest X-rays, pulmonary function test (VC, FEV1, expiratory flows, RV, DLCO, and metacholine bronchial provocation test), skin tests, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and determination of trace metals in BAL, blood, urine, pubic hair and toe nails. Two cases of bronchial asthma, six cases of interstitial lung disease and one case with both disorders were identified; eight of these cases presented at BAL signs of alveolitis with different cytologic features. Among the other 27 asymptomatic subjects, two showed an aspecific bronchial hyperreactivity, four showed a reduced DLCO, 12 showed an inverted ratio of CD4/CD8 lymphocytes in BAL without signs of alveolitis while one subject presented both an aspecific bronchial reactivity and a reduced DLCO. The presence of aspecific bronchial hyperreactivity in asymptomatic subjects might represent a preclinical indicator of a possible evolution towards bronchial asthma. An altered DLCO, alone or associated with an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio of BAL lymphocytes, might constitute an early sign of a possible evolution towards interstitial lung disease. The association of aspecific bronchial reactivity and reduced DLCO might indicate the possible evolution towards a mixed form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008670 Metals Electropositive chemical elements characterized by ductility, malleability, luster, and conductance of heat and electricity. They can replace the hydrogen of an acid and form bases with hydroxyl radicals. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Metal
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D012129 Respiratory Function Tests Measurement of the various processes involved in the act of respiration: inspiration, expiration, oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, lung volume and compliance, etc. Lung Function Tests,Pulmonary Function Tests,Function Test, Pulmonary,Function Tests, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Function Test,Test, Pulmonary Function,Tests, Pulmonary Function,Function Test, Lung,Function Test, Respiratory,Function Tests, Lung,Function Tests, Respiratory,Lung Function Test,Respiratory Function Test,Test, Lung Function,Test, Respiratory Function,Tests, Lung Function,Tests, Respiratory Function
D001992 Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Washing liquid obtained from irrigation of the lung, including the BRONCHI and the PULMONARY ALVEOLI. It is generally used to assess biochemical, inflammatory, or infection status of the lung. Alveolar Lavage Fluid,Bronchial Lavage Fluid,Lung Lavage Fluid,Bronchial Alveolar Lavage Fluid,Lavage Fluid, Bronchial,Lavage Fluid, Lung,Pulmonary Lavage Fluid,Alveolar Lavage Fluids,Bronchial Lavage Fluids,Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids,Lavage Fluid, Alveolar,Lavage Fluid, Bronchoalveolar,Lavage Fluid, Pulmonary,Lavage Fluids, Alveolar,Lavage Fluids, Bronchial,Lavage Fluids, Bronchoalveolar,Lavage Fluids, Lung,Lavage Fluids, Pulmonary,Lung Lavage Fluids,Pulmonary Lavage Fluids
D004391 Dust Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001249 Asthma A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL). Asthma, Bronchial,Bronchial Asthma,Asthmas

Related Publications

G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
Lung function and respiratory symptoms in hard metal workers exposed to cobalt.
April 2012, Journal of occupational and environmental medicine,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
Study of lung reactions in six asymptomatic workers occupationally exposed to hard metal dusts.
January 1991, La Medicina del lavoro,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
Lung cancer risk in hard-metal workers.
August 1998, American journal of epidemiology,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
[Results of examinations of workers exposed to hard metal dust].
January 1966, Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
[Cobalt-induced asthma in workers exposed to hard metal dust].
October 1992, Orvosi hetilap,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
Lung cancer mortality in a French cohort of hard-metal workers.
November 1994, American journal of industrial medicine,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
Biological monitoring of workers exposed to cobalt metal, salt, oxides, and hard metal dust.
July 1994, Occupational and environmental medicine,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
[Clinical analysis of hard metal lung disease].
May 2015, Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
Occupational asthma from cobalt sensitivity in workers exposed to hard metal dust.
January 1989, Chest,
G Rivolta, and E Nicoli, and G Ferretti, and M Tomasini
[Hard metal-induced lung changes. Hard metal asthma--interstitial hard metal pneumopathy].
July 1990, Pneumologie (Stuttgart, Germany),
Copied contents to your clipboard!