PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ibrahim Ibrahim
AU  - Ahmad El-Ebiary
AU  - Arwa Abuelfadl
AU  - Enas El-Maddah
AU  - Safinaz El-Shourbagy
TI  - Pulmonary toxicity in car spray painters
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p4943
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4943.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4943.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Background: Spray painters comprise a large population at risk with potentially high isocyanate exposure. Repeated pulmonary function testing is not sufficient to diagnose and evaluate pulmonary toxicity induced by car paint sprays. Therefore Clara cell secretory protein (CC16) was selected as a sensitive marker of bronchial tree injury.Methods: The study involved 50 workers exposed to isocyanates during car spray-painting; in addition to 30 control subjects,. All participants were subjected to pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy and lavage, and serum CC16 estimation.Results: Different pulmonary function indices as well as CC16 serum levels were found to be significantly decreased in the exposed group. Clara cells were markedly damaged in the exposed subjects, whereas smokers exhibit excessive epithelial cells desquamation.View this table:Serum levels of CC16 (ng/ml) in exposed and control subjectsConclusions: In this study clear associations between lung function parameters, CC16 serum levels, and exposure to isocyanate-containing paint-sprays were demonstrated. This stresses the importance of regulation and control of such exposure. Also, assay of serum CC16 could be used to detect pulmonary toxic effects.