High-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function findings of occupational arsenic exposure in workers
Abstract
Background: The number of studies where nonmalignant
pulmonary diseases are evaluated after
occupational arsenic exposure is very few.
Aims: To investigate the effects of occupational arsenic
exposure on the lung by high-resolution computed
tomography and pulmonary function tests.
Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.
Methods: In this study, 256 workers with suspected
respiratory occupational arsenic exposure were included,
with an average age of 32.9±7.8 years and an average of
3.5±2.7 working years. Hair and urinary arsenic levels
were analysed. High-resolution computed tomography
and pulmonary function tests were done.
Results: In workers with occupational arsenic exposure,
high-resolution computed tomography showed 18.8%
pulmonary involvement. In pulmonary involvement,
pulmonary nodule was the most frequently seen lesion
(64.5%). The other findings of pulmonary involvement
were 18.8% diffuse interstitial lung disease, 12.5%
bronchiectasis, and 27.1% bullae-emphysema. The
mean age of patients with pulmonary involvement
was higher and as they smoked more. The pulmonary
involvement was 5.2 times higher in patients with skin
lesions because of arsenic. Diffusing capacity of lung
for carbon monoxide was significantly lower in patients
with pulmonary involvement.
Conclusion: Besides lung cancer, chronic occupational
inhalation of arsenic exposure may cause non-malignant
pulmonary findings such as bronchiectasis, pulmonary
nodules and diffuse interstitial lung disease. So, in order
to detect pulmonary involvement in the early stages,
workers who experience occupational arsenic exposure
should be followed by diffusion test and high-resolution
computed tomography.