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Relationships Between Respiratory Function Disorders and Serum Copper Levels in Copper Mineworkers

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the respiratory function disorders that could be related to dust exposure during the production of copper mine in copper mineworkers (CMWs). The study included 75 male CMWs (mean age, 32.0 ± 7.1 years, 58.6% smokers) and 75 male age- and smoking status-matched healthy control subjects. Serum Cu level was significantly higher in the CMW group (0.80 ± 0.62 μg/ml) than the control group (0.60 ± 0.39 μg/ml) (p = 0.017). Significant negative correlations were found between serum Cu level and forced expiratory volume in first second (r = −0.600; p < 0.001) and between serum Cu level and forced vital capacity (r = −0.593; p = <0.001) in CMWs. Serum Cu level was significantly higher in the restrictive type pulmonary function disorders group (1.36 ± 0.62 μg/ml) than obstructive type (0.90 ± 0.55 μg/ml) and normal pulmonary function pattern group (0.53 ± 0.43 μg/ml) (p < 0.001). Patients with radiological parenchymal abnormalities had significantly higher serum copper levels than those without abnormalities (1.53 ± 0.52 vs. 0.71 ± 0.52 μg/ml, respectively; p = 0.002). In conclusion, result of the study has shown a negative association between pulmonary functions disorders and radiological abnormalities and serum Cu levels in CMWs.

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Abbreviations

CMWs:

Copper mineworkers

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Cu:

Copper

FEV1:

Forced expiratory volume in first second

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

HRCT:

High-resolution computed tomography

IF:

Interstitial fibrosis

ILO:

International Labour Office

PM10 :

Respirable dust (particle diameter <10 μm)

PN:

Parenchymal nodules

Zn:

Zinc

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chest Diseases, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Abdurrahman Abakay, Cengizhan Sezgi & Abdullah C. Tanrikulu

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Osman Gokalp

  3. Department of Chest Diseases, Education and Training Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Ozlem Abakay

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Osman Evliyaoglu

  5. Department of Public Health, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Yilmaz Palanci

  6. Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Faysal Ekici

  7. Department of Mine Engineering, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Askeri Karakus & Mustafa Ayhan

Authors
  1. Abdurrahman Abakay
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  2. Osman Gokalp
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  3. Ozlem Abakay
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  4. Osman Evliyaoglu
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  5. Cengizhan Sezgi
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  7. Faysal Ekici
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  9. Abdullah C. Tanrikulu
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  10. Mustafa Ayhan
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Correspondence to Abdurrahman Abakay.

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Abakay, A., Gokalp, O., Abakay, O. et al. Relationships Between Respiratory Function Disorders and Serum Copper Levels in Copper Mineworkers. Biol Trace Elem Res 145, 151–157 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9184-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9184-9

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