Lung Function and Airway Inflammation in Portland Cement Workers

Completed

• Conditions: Airway Inflammation; Peripheral Blood Inflammation Markers; Cement Dust Exposure

• Registration Number: NCT00455377
• Lead Sponsor: Sykehuset Telemark

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to examine inflammation in the airways and in peripheral blood, in workers in a cement plant i Norway.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVE: Former studies have presented conflicting data on the association between exposure to Portland cement dust and respiratory effects. Our goal is to examine inflammation in the airways and in peripheral blood in subjects exposed to cement-dust.

METHODS: All non smoking, dust exposed, workers from one department in the largest cement plant in Norway, are invited to participate. The workers will perform spirometry and induced sputum (IS) after a period of regular work with cement dust exposure, and again after a minimum of 5 days without exposure. Information on respiratory symptoms, allergy and former respiratory disease will be given on a self-reported questionnaire. IS was performed and processed as described by Pin et al. Differential cell counts will be carried out. Inflammatory markers in induced sputum and in peripheral blood will be measured. We want to use a crossover design were the cases are used as their own controls, but we will also include external controls.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-03
• Study First Submitted: 2007-03-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-04-02
• Study First Posted: 2007-04-03
• Primary Completion: 2008-10
• Study Completion: 2008-12
• Status Verified: 2013-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-06-12
• Last Update Posted: 2013-06-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 72

Inclusion Criteria

• Cement dust exposure
• Non-smoker or ex-smoker >3 years

Exclusion Criteria

• Infectious disease during the last 3 weeks
• Chronic airway disease

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of neutrophile cells in induced sputum	Before and after a period of exposure	A significantly higher percentage of neutrophils was observed in induced sputum samples from cement production workers collected during an exposed period compared with a nonexposed period and compared with external controls.
Concentration of Interleukin 1beta in induced sputum	Before and after a period of exposure to cement production dust	The concentration of Interleukin 1beta was higher in the sputum of workers during an exposed period than that of the office workers or the external controls.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Sykehuset Telemark; 🇳🇴 Skien, Telemark, Norway