RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Lung function, mercury exposure and chronic mountain sickness in gold miners at 5100m JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA3804 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2023.PA3804 VO 62 IS suppl 67 A1 Sevik, Ahmet A1 Gilliand, Dominic A1 Persoons, Renaud A1 Champigneulle, Benoit A1 Brugniaux, Julien A1 Verges, Samuel A1 Furian, Michael YR 2023 UL https://publications.ersnet.org//content/62/suppl_67/PA3804.abstract AB Background Gold miners working in La Rinconada (5100m), Peru, suffer from severe hypoxia, which can promote chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Additionally, they might develop lung damage and further hypoxemia from regular crystalline silica dust inhalation as well as neurotoxic effects from mercury exposure caused by gold extraction. The rationale of this study was to investigate the overlap between symptoms of CMS, reduced lung function and mercury intoxication.Methods Male highlanders, living for >3y at 5100m, aged 18–55y were invited to participate. CMS severity was assessed by the Qinghai CMS questionnaire. Main outcomes were lung function (forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1]) and mercury concentration quantified by analyzing urine samples, as well as their correlation with hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and CMS score.Results 71 participants included for this analysis (mean±SD age 45.0±7.6y; FEV1: 89±16%pred.) were hypoxic (SpO2: 79.1±4.6%), hypocapnic (PetCO2: 26.9±2.6mmHg) and had erythrocytosis (Hb: 23.0±1.9g/dl). Overall, 5.7%, 88.7%, 5.6% of highlanders had no, mild, moderate CMS, respectively. Mercury concentration exceeding the neurotoxic threshold of ≥20μgHg/g creatinine was measured in 18%. Mixed linear regressions corrected for age showed a positive correlation between mercury concentration and CMS score (coef. 0.01, P<0.05) as well as Hb (coef. 0.27, P<0.05) and a negative correlation between FEV1 and Hb (coef. -0.04, P<0.05).Conclusion Highlanders with reduced lung function and elevated mercury intoxication had higher Hb and CMS scores. Whether exposure to silica dust or mercury contamination can accentuate CMS at high altitude requires further prospective studies.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2023; 62: Suppl. 67, PA3804.This abstract was presented at the 2023 ERS International Congress, in session “Inflammatory endotyping: the macrophage across disease areas”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).