Biomarker for welding exposure in exhaled endogenous particles

• More than two million workers are exposed to pneumotoxic welding aerosols and there is a need for target organ specific biomarkers of exposure. Manganese is a common constituent of iron alloys, its occupational exposure limit is low and other biomarkers are poor, which makes it a good model substance. We hypothesize that metal particles are deposited in the small airways and are incorporated into endogenous particles formed during respiration. A subsequent analysis of these particles in exhaled air (PEx) can serve as a biomarker for metals in welding fumes. We have recently developed a method for the collection of PEx (Almstrand, A.-C. et al. Anal Chem 2008; 81:662-668), based on counting of the exhaled particles and subsequent collection by impaction on a filter. Here we developed a method for analysis of trace metal content, i.e. manganese and iron in PEx. The method involved desorption of the filter in 5% nitric acid and analysis of the metal content by ICP-MS. To test our hypothesis, we exposed 9 healthy non-smokers (4F/5M, 29-63 years) to welding aerosol in an exposure chamber (Isaxon, C. et al. Aerosol Sci Tech 2012; 47:52-59) for two hours. Manganese and iron was analysed in PEx samples collected before, immediately after and 24 h after exposure. The results showed that 4 out of 9 persons had substantially increased levels of both manganese and iron in PEx immediately after exposure. Before exposure two samples had an iron content above limit of detection and none of the samples collected after 24 h. Manganese was below LOD in all samples collected before and 24 h after exposure. The study showed that the analysis of metals in PEx is a promising biomarker for metal aerosol exposure.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Analytisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Analytical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

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