Chang I-Jen, Sun Chuan-Yen, Chen Wei-Chih, Yang Ting-An, Fan Hao-Yi, Chen Yang-Chieh Brian, Tsao Yu-Chung
Department of Occupational Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Respir Med. 2025 Jan;236:107908. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107908. Epub 2024 Dec 5.
Indium, a rare heavy metal, extensively used in flat panel display manufacturing, poses potential respiratory health risks to workers. Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), a term describing nonobstructive lung function abnormalities, is associated with adverse health outcomes. Despite known risks, the relationship between serum indium levels and PRISm remains underexplored.
A cross-sectional cohort study among non-smoking industry workers potentially exposed to indium in Taiwan was conducted in 2020. Demographic data, and pulmonary function tests were collected comprehensively. Serum indium levels were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and respiratory symptoms were obtained via questionnaire. PRISm was defined as FEV/FVC ≥0.7 with FEV1 < 80 % predicted. Univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors associated with PRISm.
Among 2575 eligible participants, those with abnormal serum indium levels (≥3 ng/mL) were older, predominantly male, and had longer total working duration. PRISm prevalence was significantly higher in individuals with abnormal indium levels (22.7 % vs. 7.6 %). PRISm subjects exhibited a higher proportion of abnormal indium levels. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum indium levels ≥3 ng/mL and female sex were significant risk factors for PRISm after adjusting sex, age, body mass index and working duration.
This study demonstrates a significant association between elevated serum indium levels and increased PRISm prevalence among non-smoking workers in Taiwan. Findings highlight the importance of assessing serum indium levels in occupational health surveillance and revising exposure standards to mitigate respiratory health risks associated with indium exposure.
铟是一种稀有重金属，广泛应用于平板显示器制造，对工人的呼吸健康构成潜在风险。保存率受损肺量计（PRISm）是一个描述非阻塞性肺功能异常的术语，与不良健康结局相关。尽管存在已知风险，但血清铟水平与PRISm之间的关系仍未得到充分研究。
2020年在台湾对可能接触铟的非吸烟行业工人进行了一项横断面队列研究。全面收集了人口统计学数据和肺功能测试结果。使用电感耦合等离子体质谱法定量血清铟水平，并通过问卷获取呼吸道症状。PRISm定义为FEV/FVC≥0.7且FEV1<预测值的80%。进行单因素和多因素逻辑回归分析以确定与PRISm相关的危险因素。
在2575名符合条件的参与者中，血清铟水平异常（≥3 ng/mL）的人年龄较大，以男性为主，总工作时长更长。铟水平异常的个体中PRISm患病率显著更高（22.7%对7.6%）。PRISm受试者中铟水平异常的比例更高。多因素分析显示，在调整性别、年龄、体重指数和工作时长后，血清铟水平≥3 ng/mL和女性是PRISm的显著危险因素。
本研究表明台湾非吸烟工人血清铟水平升高与PRISm患病率增加之间存在显著关联。研究结果强调了在职业健康监测中评估血清铟水平以及修订接触标准以降低与铟接触相关的呼吸健康风险的重要性。
