Nogami Hiroko, Shimoda Terufumi, Shoji Shunsuke, Nishima Sankei
Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization, Fukuoka National Hospital.
Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi. 2008 Jan;46(1):60-4.
The production of indium-tin oxide has increased during the past decade, owing to the increased manufacture of liquid-crystal panels, especially in Japan. We carried out a medical checkup including high resolution CT (HRCT), pulmonary function test, KL-6, SP-D and serum indium concentration, for 40 men (mean age 40.4 +/- 12.4 years old) working in an indium plant. Four workers who were all smokers had emphysematous changes on HRCT and one subject (non-smoker) had lung cancer. There were no findings of interstitial changes on HRCT. Serum KL-6 was significantly elevated (over 500U/ml) in 9 subjects (22.5%). Subjects with a high concentration of serum indium (3ng/ml<) had significantly longer exposure periods, higher KL-6 and SP-D levels compared with those with a low concentration (3ng/ml>). The serum indium concentration positively correlated with the KL-6 level. These results suggest that inhaled indium compounds can cause pulmonary disorders such as interstitial changes.
在过去十年中，由于液晶面板制造量的增加，尤其是在日本，氧化铟锡的产量有所上升。我们对一家铟工厂的40名男性员工（平均年龄40.4±12.4岁）进行了包括高分辨率CT（HRCT）、肺功能测试、KL-6、SP-D和血清铟浓度在内的医学检查。4名均为吸烟者的工人在HRCT上有肺气肿改变，1名受试者（非吸烟者）患有肺癌。HRCT上未发现间质性改变。9名受试者（22.5%）的血清KL-6显著升高（超过500U/ml）。与低浓度（>3ng/ml）者相比，血清铟浓度高（<3ng/ml）的受试者有明显更长的暴露时间、更高的KL-6和SP-D水平。血清铟浓度与KL-6水平呈正相关。这些结果表明，吸入铟化合物可导致肺部疾病，如间质性改变。
