ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate alterations in the nasal mucosa in workers that for professional purpose, are exposed, for a long period of time, to wood dust (WD). The increased frequency in alterations could underline a mechanism for chronic damage that could lead to cancer This study took into account 50 cabinet workers (EW) who had been exposed to WD for an average of 33 years and were compared to 48 controls (CC). A questionnaire regarding nasal symptoms was submitted, the nasal mucosa was examined by fibroscopy, secretions were valuated, cytogram from a nasal swap was also done. 44% of the EW and 33.4% of CC showed macroscopic alterations of the mucosa (PR 1,32 IC95% 0,79-2,19). The cytogram was altered in 24% of EW and in 12.5% of CC (PR 1,92 IC95% 0,78-4,71). In EW there was an abnormal significant increase in nasal secretions compared to CS, 28% vs 11,4% (PR 2,69 IC95% 1,05-6,89). The results do not confirm our hypothesis, but they show an unexpected prevalence of alteration in the CC. While waiting for further results, we express doubts in proposing routinary specialistic evaluation to all the EW to WD. At present it is hard to pin point indicators that could help reach an early diagnosis in the development of sinus-nasal cancer.
Subject(s)
Dust , Nasal Mucosa/pathology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Occupational Health , Population Surveillance , Wood , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the induced sputum of 17 workers exposed to low airborne asbestos levels and of 10 controls was determined. IL-8 levels were statistically significantly increased in the asbestos exposed group compared to controls. This finding underlines the usefulness of the study of proinflammatory mediators as possible predictors of alveolar damage.
