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Fabrication of a Solution-gated Indium-Tin-Oxide-based One-piece Transistor Enabling Sensitive Biosensing
Published on: August 29, 2025
Serial evaluations at an indium-tin oxide production facility.
Kristin J Cummings1, Eva Suarthana, Nicole Edwards
1Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. kcummings@cdc.gov
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|October 31, 2012
Summary
Workplace changes partially reduced indium lung disease, but abnormalities remain common. New prevention strategies are needed to address exposure and lung function decline in indium-tin oxide workers.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Evaluating workplace interventions for indium lung disease using surveillance data from an indium-tin oxide production facility (2002-2010).
- Indium lung disease is a serious occupational hazard in indium-tin oxide production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of implemented workplace changes in preventing indium lung disease.
- To investigate the prevalence and patterns of lung function abnormalities in exposed workers.
Main Methods:
- Pulmonary function tests were used to assess lung health.
- Blood indium levels and personal air sampling data were utilized to estimate worker exposure.
- Surveillance data from 2002-2010 were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of spirometric restriction was 31% and excessive FEV1 decline was 29% after hire.
- Half of the workers had blood indium concentrations ≥5 µg/l.
- Fewer abnormalities were observed in more recent hires, suggesting some impact of workplace changes, but a clear exposure-response relationship was not evident.
Conclusions:
- Lung function abnormalities consistent with subclinical indium lung disease are common and require further investigation.
- Traditional exposure assessment methods were insufficient; novel approaches are needed.
- Workplace interventions showed a positive but incomplete effect, highlighting the need for new preventive strategies.
