Interstitial lung disorders in the indium workers of Korea: An update study for the relationship with biological exposure indices

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine 2015-01, Vol.58 (1), p.61-68
• Main Authors: Choi, Sungyeul, Won, Yong Lim, Kim, Dohyung, Lee, Mi-Young, Choi, Yoon jung, Park, Jai-Soung, Kim, Hyoung-Ryoul, Jung, Jung Im, Lee, Sang-Gil, Kim, Eun-A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; high-resolution computed tomography; Humans; indium; Indium - adverse effects; interstitial lung disease; Interviews as Topic; Krebs von den Lungen-6; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - blood; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - chemically induced; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - diagnostic imaging; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - epidemiology; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - urine; Male; Middle Aged; Mucin-1 - blood; Occupational Diseases - blood; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - urine; occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Prevalence; Radiography; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Smoking - epidemiology; Spirometry; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22402

Background Korea is one of the highest indium‐consuming countries worldwide. The present study aims to determine the relationship between interstitial lung disorders and indium exposure in Korea. Methods In 50 indium workers from seven plants, the effect of serum indium on the lungs was determined using laboratory tests, spirometry, and high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Results Higher serum indium and Krebs von den Lungen‐6 (KL‐6) levels were associated with HRCT‐detected interstitial lung changes. Workers with high serum indium levels (≥3 µg/L) had longer exposure durations and a higher prevalence of HRCT‐detected interstitial lung changes. KL‐6 and surfactant protein‐D (SP‐D) levels were significantly higher in the highest serum indium quartile than the lowest quartile. Significant dose–effect relationships existed between serum indium levels and KL‐6, SP‐D levels and the prevalence of HRCT‐detected interstitial lung changes. Conclusions Workforce medical surveillance should be established to prevent indium‐induced interstitial lung disease in Korea. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:61–68, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.