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. 2019 Apr 19;110(2):83-92.
doi: 10.23749/mdl.v110i2.7471.

Non-invasive techniques to assess restrictive lung disease in workers exposed to free crystalline silica

Massimo Corradi  1 , Giuseppina Folesani, Benedetta Robuschi, Luisella Selis, Maria Grazia Riccelli, Maria Grazia Riccelli, Roberta Andreoli, Roberta Pisi, Alfredo Chetta, Antonio Mutti
Affiliations

Non-invasive techniques to assess restrictive lung disease in workers exposed to free crystalline silica

Massimo Corradi et al. Med Lav. .

Abstract
in English, Italian

Objectives: To compare the reliability of spirometry and body plethysmography in detecting restrictive lung disease in clay excavation workers exposed to free crystalline silica (FCS). The exhaled breath condensate (EBC) biomarkers of oxidative stress were also assessed in order to evaluate early lung damage.

Methods: The study involved 62 workers (58 males and 4 females) at a company that extracts and processes clay.

Results: Body plethysmography (total lung capacity below the lower normal limit) and spirometry respectively indicated restrictive pattern prevalence rates of 22.6% and 1.6%. EBC 4-hydroxynonenale levels were not sufficiently sensitive to highlight a restrictive deficit, but did distinguish low and high rates of occupational exposure. There was no correlation between plethysmography values and the intensity or duration of exposure.

Conclusions: Only one out of 14 cases of restrictive deficit diagnosed on the basis of body plethysmography values was also identified by means of spirometry. This finding supports the need to use body plethysmography in the health surveillance of clay workers exposed to FCS.

«Tecniche non invasive per la valutazione della patologia polmonare restrittiva in lavoratori esposti a silice libera cristallina».

Obiettivi:: Investigare in lavoratori impegnati nell’estrazione e lavorazione dell’argilla, esposti a silice libera cristallina, la capacità della spirometria di rilevare la presenza di un pattern restrittivo.

Metodi:: Sono stati reclutati 62 lavoratori (58 maschi e 4 femmine) da una ditta, che estrae e produce argilla.

Risultati:: Dalla pletismografia corporea, la prevalenza di deficit restrittivo (TLC <LLN) era 22.6% vs 1.6% della spirometria. Il 4-idrossinonenale (4-HNE) nel CAE non è un biomarcatore sufficientemente sensibile per evidenziare deficit restrittivo, ma è in grado di discriminare tra bassa ed alta esposizione. Correlazioni non sono state trovate tra valori pletismografici e periodi e grado di esposizione.

Conclusioni:: La ricerca evidenzia che per 14 casi di restrizione diagnosticati dalla pletismografia corporea su un totale di 62 lavoratori, la spirometria pone il sospetto solo per un lavoratore. Questo evidenzia l’importanza di effettuare la pletismografia corporea nella sorveglianza sanitaria per lavoratori esposti a FCS impiegati nell’estrazione dell’argilla.

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