Lipid composition of particles in exhaled air (PEx) from workers exposed to welding fumes

• More than two million workers are exposed to pneumotoxic welding aerosols and there is a need for biomarkers of effects on the respiratory system. The lipid composition of the respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF) is such a potential marker. The most abundant pulmonary surfactant phospholipid is dipalmitoylphosphocholine (DPPC). It is specific for the airways, while palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) is a common lipid in tissues and body fluids. We hypothesize that the amounts of or ratio between DPPC and DOPC are changed due to short term and/or long term exposure to welding fumes. We have developed a method for the collection of PEx, based on counting of the exhaled particles and subsequent collection by impaction on a teflon membrane. We have also developed a method for analysis of lipids in PEx based on LC/MS. We measured the exposure to iron, manganese, chromium and nickel of 18 stainless steel welders and also analyzed DPPC and DOPC in PEx samples taken at the end of the exposure measurement day. The welders working history was also recoded and summarized as welding years. Spirometry and nitrogen multiple breath wash out were also measured but the results are not yet evaluated. There were no significant correlations between the short term exposure to either iron, manganese, chromium or nickel and the fraction of DPPC in PEx or the ratio DPPC/DOPC. However, there was a tendency of correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient= 0.407 with p-value 0.09) between welding years and the DPPC/DOPC ratio. In this pilot study we could not establish short term effects of welding exposure on the RTFL lipid composition but a tendency of change due the long time exposure.

Ämnesord

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

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

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

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

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