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Airway inflammation in paper mill workers

Liv I B Sikkeland1, Terje Haug, Astrid M Stangeland

  • 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty Division Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway. liv.sikkeland@rikshospitalet.no

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|November 15, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Paper mill workers exposed to microorganisms (MOs) show subclinical airway inflammation. This study detected higher neutrophils and pro-inflammatory cytokines in sputum of workers with high MO exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Environmental Medicine
  • Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

  • Paper mill workers face exposure to airborne culturable microorganisms (MOs).
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated the subclinical inflammatory effects of MO exposure in asymptomatic workers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of subclinical airway inflammation in paper mill workers exposed to varying levels of MOs.
  • To compare inflammatory markers in the sputum of workers with high MO exposure (HMOE) versus low MO exposure (LMOE) and non-exposed (NE) individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Differential cell counts of induced sputum were performed.
  • Gene expression of isolated sputum macrophages was analyzed for pro-inflammatory cytokines.
  • Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in sputum was measured.

Main Results:

  • Workers with high MO exposure (HMOE) exhibited a significantly higher percentage of neutrophils in sputum compared to LMOE and NE groups.
  • Increased gene expression of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta was observed in airway macrophages from HMOE workers.
  • Elevated total matrix metalloprotease-9 activity was detected in the sputum of the HMOE group.

Conclusions:

  • Paper industry workers exposed to microorganisms develop subclinical airway inflammation.
  • Neutrophil counts, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and MMP-9 activity serve as indicators of this inflammation.

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