Ophir Noa, Shai Amir Bar, Alkalay Yifat, Israeli Shani, Korenstein Rafi, Kramer Mordechai R, Fireman Elizabeth
Laboratory for Pulmonary and Allergic Diseases, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Laboratory for Pulmonary and Allergic Diseases, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
ERJ Open Res. 2016 Mar 17;2(1). doi: 10.1183/23120541.00086-2015. eCollection 2016 Jan.
The manufacture of kitchen and bath countertops in Israel is based mainly on artificial stone that contains 93% silica as natural quartz, and ∼3500 workers are involved in cutting and processing it. Artificial stone produces high concentrations of silica dust. Exposure to crystalline silica may cause silicosis, an irreversible lung disease. Our aim was to screen exposed workers by quantitative biometric monitoring of functional and inflammatory parameters. 68 exposed artificial stone workers were compared to 48 nonexposed individuals (controls). Exposed workers filled in questionnaires, and all participants underwent pulmonary function tests and induced sputum analyses. Silica was quantitated by a Niton XL3 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Pulmonary function test results of exposed workers were significantly lower and induced sputa showed significantly higher neutrophilic inflammation compared to controls; both processes were slowed down by the use of protective measures in the workplace. Particle size distribution in induced sputum samples of exposed workers was similar to that of artificial stone dust, which contained aluminium, zirconium and titanium in addition to silica. In conclusion, the quantitation of biometric parameters is useful for monitoring workers exposed to artificial stone in order to avoid deterioration over time.
以色列厨房和浴室台面的制造主要基于含93%二氧化硅（天然石英）的人造石，约3500名工人参与其切割和加工。人造石会产生高浓度的二氧化硅粉尘。接触结晶二氧化硅可能会导致矽肺病，这是一种不可逆的肺部疾病。我们的目的是通过对功能和炎症参数进行定量生物特征监测来筛查接触工人。将68名接触人造石的工人与48名未接触者（对照组）进行比较。接触工人填写问卷，所有参与者都接受了肺功能测试和诱导痰分析。使用Niton XL3 X射线荧光光谱仪对二氧化硅进行定量。与对照组相比，接触工人的肺功能测试结果明显更低，诱导痰显示中性粒细胞炎症明显更高；工作场所使用防护措施使这两个过程有所减缓。接触工人诱导痰样本中的颗粒大小分布与除二氧化硅外还含有铝、锆和钛的人造石粉尘相似。总之，生物特征参数的定量对于监测接触人造石的工人很有用，以便避免随着时间推移而出现病情恶化。
