Non-fibrous inorganic particles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of pottery workers

AIM: To study the actual exposure of pottery workers to silica particles, as their risk of silicosis is potentially high because of the presence of inhalable crystalline silica particles in the workplace. METHODS: Nine pottery workers underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. The recovered fluid was analyse...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) England), 1996-11, Vol.53 (11), p.762-766
Main Authors: Falchi, M, Paoletti, L, Mariotta, S, Giosue, S, Guidi, L, Biondo, L, Scavalli, P, Bisetti, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry
Case-Control Studies
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Dust - adverse effects
Female
Humans
Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.)
Lungs
Male
Medical sciences
Metal particles
Metals - analysis
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Minerals
Occupational exposure
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Pottery
Radiation counters
Radiography, Thoracic
Sarcoidosis
Silica
Silicates
Silicates - analysis
Silicon Dioxide - analysis
Silicosis
Toxicology
X ray film
Zirconium
Zirconium - analysis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:AIM: To study the actual exposure of pottery workers to silica particles, as their risk of silicosis is potentially high because of the presence of inhalable crystalline silica particles in the workplace. METHODS: Nine pottery workers underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. The recovered fluid was analysed for cytological and mineralogical content by analytical transmission electron microscopy. The data were compared with those obtained from a control group composed of seven patients with sarcoidosis and six patients with haemoptysis. RESULTS: Cytological results showed a similar profile in exposed workers and controls, whereas in patients with sarcoidosis a lymphocytic alveolitis was found. Microanalysis of the particulate identified the presence of silicates, CRSs, and metals. Pottery workers had higher numbers of total particles and CRSs, and had a higher silicate/metal ratio. In five workers, the presence of zirconium silicate was also detected. Patients with sarcoidosis had the lowest number of particles, and an inverted silicate/metal ratio. CONCLUSION: Microanalysis by transmission electron microscope can provide useful information to assess occupational exposure to dusts.
ISSN:1351-0711
1470-7926
DOI:10.1136/oem.53.11.762