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. 2017 May 5:12:1363-1374.
doi: 10.2147/COPD.S117866. eCollection 2017.

Serum cytokine levels related to exposure to volatile organic compounds and PM2.5 in dwellings and workplaces in French farmers - a mechanism to explain nonsmoking COPD

Christelle Audi  1 , Nour Baïz  1 , Cara N Maesano  1 , Ollivier Ramousse  2 , Damien Reboulleau  3 , Antoine Magnan  3 , Denis Caillaud  4 , Isabella Annesi-Maesano  1
Affiliations

Serum cytokine levels related to exposure to volatile organic compounds and PM2.5 in dwellings and workplaces in French farmers - a mechanism to explain nonsmoking COPD

Christelle Audi et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. .

Abstract

Although French farmers smoke less on average than individuals from the general population, they suffer more from COPD. Exposure to biological and chemical air pollutants in the farm may be the cause of these higher COPD rates. This study investigates the role of bio-contaminants, including the relationship of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (of diameter of 2.5 µm [PM2.5]) objectively measured in the farm settings (dwellings and workplaces) to serum cytokines involved in COPD, in a sample of 72 farmers from 50 farms in the Auvergne region, France. Mean concentrations of VOCs were highest inside the home, while levels of PM2.5 were highest in workplaces (stables and granaries). After adjusting for confounders, high exposure to PM2.5 was significantly associated with a decreased level of serum cytokines (among others, IL13: β: -0.94, CI: -1.5 to -0.2, P-value =0.004; IL8: β: -0.82, CI: -1.4 to -0.2, P-value =0.005) and high exposure to VOCs according to a VOC global score with a decreased IL13 level (β: -0.5, CI: -0.9 to -0.1, P-value =0.01). Moreover, respiratory symptoms and diseases, including COPD, were associated with a decreased level of serum cytokines significantly in the case of IL5. An alteration of immune response balance in terms of cytokine levels in relation to indoor chemical air pollution exposure may contribute to respiratory health impairment in farmers.

Keywords: COPD; French farmers; PM2.5; VOCs; cytokines; indoor rural air pollution.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of VOCs according to the residence type. Abbreviation: VOCs, volatile organic compounds.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the global VOC scores in the farms. Abbreviation: VOCs, volatile organic compounds.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of PM2.5 according to the residence type. Note: PM2.5, particles with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution rate of each cytokine and ILs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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