Abstract
Irritative effects caused by vapours and aerosols of bitumen were assessed by non-invasive methods including spirometry, nasal lavage fluid (NALF) and induced sputum (IS) in a cross-shift study comparing 320 bitumen-exposed workers with 118 road construction workers as the reference group. Lung function parameters, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were within normal ranges in both the reference and the bitumen-exposed groups pre- and post-shift with marginally lower values in smokers of both groups. During the shift, a slight decline in FEV1 and FVC was observed in the bitumen-exposed group independent of their smoking habits, whereas in the non-smoking reference group, the decline in FEV1 was not observed. No significant differences between bitumen-exposed workers and the reference group and no significant shift effect were observed on the upper airways using NALF analysis. The IS concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8, total protein and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were significantly higher in bitumen-exposed workers than in the reference group. However, the concentration of these three biomarkers in the IS samples, which are indicators of inflammatory effects on the lower airways of bitumen-exposed workers, was already higher in exposed workers before shift and did not show an increase during the shift. Therefore, the key finding of this aspect of the Human Bitumen Study is the detection of potentially (sub-) chronic irritative inflammatory effects in the lower airways of bitumen-exposed workers.
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Acknowledgments
The Human Bitumen Study was initiated by the German Committee for Hazardous Substances (AGS) and the German Bitumen Forum and financially supported by German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), Eurobitume, Deutscher Asphaltverband e.V., Concawe, Zentralverband des Deutschen Dachdeckerhandwerks, Industrieverband Bitumen-, Dach- und Dichtungsbahnen e.V., Berufsgenossenschaft Rohstoffe und Chemische Industrie (BG RCI) and Aksys GmbH, Beratungsstelle Gussasphaltanwendungen (bga), BG BAU, Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Bitumenindustrie (Arbit). We thank all workers having participated in the Human Bitumen Study. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the field team especially Anne Flagge, Anja Molkenthin, Bianca Wachter, Dieter Höber, Gerd Zoubek, and in parts of the study Klaus Schott (†) and Hans-Jürgen Schicker and the laboratory staff Gerda Borowitzki, Susanne Freundt, Heike Stubel, Maria Düser, Sabine Bernard and Helga Hut for their skilful technical assistance and/or the data entry.
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Raulf-Heimsoth, M., Pesch, B., Kendzia, B. et al. Irritative effects of vapours and aerosols of bitumen on the airways assessed by non-invasive methods. Arch Toxicol 85 (Suppl 1), 41–52 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-011-0681-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-011-0681-6