PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Today, nanomaterials are broadly used in a wide range of industrial applications. Such large utilization and the limited knowledge on to the possible health effects have raised concerns about potential consequences on human health and safety, beyond the environmental burden. Given that inhalation is the main exposure route, workers exposed to nanomaterials might be at risk of occurrence of respiratory morbidity and/or reduced pulmonary function. However, epidemiological evidence regarding the association between cumulative exposure to nanomaterials and respiratory health is still scarce. This study focused on the association between cumulative exposure to nanomaterials and pulmonary function among 136 workers enrolled in the framework of the European multicentric NanoExplore project.
RESULTS: Our findings suggest that, independently of lifelong tobacco smoking, ethnicity, age, sex, body mass index and physical activity habits, 10-year cumulative exposure to nanomaterials is associated to worse FEV1 and FEF25 - 75%, which might be consistent with the involvement of both large and small airway components and early signs of airflow obstruction. We further explored the hypothesis of a mediating effect via airway inflammation, assessed by interleukin (IL-)10, IL-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), all quantified in the Exhaled Breath Condensate of workers. The mediation analysis results suggest that IL-10, TNF-α and their ratio (i.e., anti-pro inflammatory ratio) may fully mediate the negative association between cumulative exposure to nanomaterials and the FEV1/FVC ratio. This pattern was not observed for other pulmonary function parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Safeguarding the respiratory health of workers exposed to nanomaterials should be of primary importance. The observed association between cumulative exposure to nanomaterials and worse pulmonary function parameters underscores the importance of implementing adequate protective measures in the nanocomposite sector. The mitigation of harmful exposures may ensure that workers can continue to contribute productively to their workplaces while preserving their respiratory health over time.
RESULTS: Our findings suggest that, independently of lifelong tobacco smoking, ethnicity, age, sex, body mass index and physical activity habits, 10-year cumulative exposure to nanomaterials is associated to worse FEV1 and FEF25 - 75%, which might be consistent with the involvement of both large and small airway components and early signs of airflow obstruction. We further explored the hypothesis of a mediating effect via airway inflammation, assessed by interleukin (IL-)10, IL-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), all quantified in the Exhaled Breath Condensate of workers. The mediation analysis results suggest that IL-10, TNF-α and their ratio (i.e., anti-pro inflammatory ratio) may fully mediate the negative association between cumulative exposure to nanomaterials and the FEV1/FVC ratio. This pattern was not observed for other pulmonary function parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Safeguarding the respiratory health of workers exposed to nanomaterials should be of primary importance. The observed association between cumulative exposure to nanomaterials and worse pulmonary function parameters underscores the importance of implementing adequate protective measures in the nanocomposite sector. The mitigation of harmful exposures may ensure that workers can continue to contribute productively to their workplaces while preserving their respiratory health over time.
摘要：
背景：今天，纳米材料广泛应用于广泛的工业应用。如此广泛的利用和对可能的健康影响的知识有限，引起了人们对对人类健康和安全的潜在影响的关注，超越环境负担。鉴于吸入是主要的暴露途径，接触纳米材料的工人可能有发生呼吸道疾病和/或肺功能降低的风险.然而,关于累积暴露于纳米材料与呼吸健康之间的关联的流行病学证据仍然很少。这项研究的重点是在欧洲多中心NanoExplore项目框架中招募的136名工人中，纳米材料的累积暴露与肺功能之间的关联。
结果：我们的研究结果表明，独立于终身吸烟，种族,年龄,性别,身体质量指数和身体活动习惯，10年累积暴露于纳米材料与更差的FEV1和FEF25-75％有关，这可能与大小气道成分的参与以及气流阻塞的早期迹象一致。我们进一步探索了通过气道炎症介导作用的假设，通过白细胞介素（IL-）10，IL-1β和肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）评估，全部量化在工人的呼气冷凝液中。调解分析结果表明，IL-10、TNF-α及其比例(即，抗炎比率）可能完全介导累积暴露于纳米材料与FEV1/FVC比率之间的负相关。对于其他肺功能参数未观察到这种模式。
结论：保护接触纳米材料的工人的呼吸健康应该是首要的。观察到的纳米材料累积暴露与更差的肺功能参数之间的关联强调了在纳米复合材料领域实施适当保护措施的重要性。减少有害暴露可以确保工人能够继续为他们的工作场所做出富有成效的贡献，同时随着时间的推移保持他们的呼吸健康。
结果：我们的研究结果表明，独立于终身吸烟，种族,年龄,性别,身体质量指数和身体活动习惯，10年累积暴露于纳米材料与更差的FEV1和FEF25-75％有关，这可能与大小气道成分的参与以及气流阻塞的早期迹象一致。我们进一步探索了通过气道炎症介导作用的假设，通过白细胞介素（IL-）10，IL-1β和肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）评估，全部量化在工人的呼气冷凝液中。调解分析结果表明，IL-10、TNF-α及其比例(即，抗炎比率）可能完全介导累积暴露于纳米材料与FEV1/FVC比率之间的负相关。对于其他肺功能参数未观察到这种模式。
结论：保护接触纳米材料的工人的呼吸健康应该是首要的。观察到的纳米材料累积暴露与更差的肺功能参数之间的关联强调了在纳米复合材料领域实施适当保护措施的重要性。减少有害暴露可以确保工人能够继续为他们的工作场所做出富有成效的贡献，同时随着时间的推移保持他们的呼吸健康。
