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Biomarkers of endothelial activation and thrombosis in tunnel construction workers exposed to airborne contaminants

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Abstract

Objectives

The aims were to study biomarkers of systemic inflammation, platelet/endothelial activation and thrombosis in tunnel construction workers (TCW).

Methods

Biomarkers and blood fatty acids were measured in blood of 90 TCW and 50 referents before (baseline) and towards the end (follow-up) of a 12 days work period. They had been absent from work for 9 days at baseline. Air samples were collected by personal sampling.

Results

Personal thoracic air samples showed geometric mean (GM) particulate matter and α-quartz concentrations of 604 and 74 µg/m3, respectively. The arithmetic mean (AM) concentration of elemental carbon was 51 µg/m3. The GM (and 95% confidence interval) concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α decreased from 2.2 (2.0–2.4) at baseline to 2.0 pg/mL (1.8–2.2) (p = 0.02) at follow-up among the TCW. Also the platelet activation biomarkers P-selectin and CD40L decreased significantly [25.4 (24.1–26.6) to 24.4 (22.9–26.0)] ng/mL, p = 0.04 and 125 (114–137) to 105 (96–115) pg/mL, p < 0.001, respectively. ICAM-1 concentrations increased from 249 (238–260) to 254 (243–266) ng/mL (p = 0.02). No significant alterations were observed among the referents when assessed by paired sample t test. Unbeneficial alterations in blood fatty acid composition were observed between baseline and follow-up, mainly among referents.

Conclusions

TCW had slightly reduced systemic inflammation and platelet activation although highly exposed to particulate matter, α-quarz and diesel exhaust, which might be due to increased physical activity during the exposure period. The slightly increased ICAM-1 may indicate monocyte recruitment to the lungs. The diet was substantially altered towards a less beneficial fatty acid profile.

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Acknowledgements

We thank medical technologist Vibeke Bratseth for excellent laboratory work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway

    Dag G. Ellingsen, Yngvar Thomassen, Berit Bakke & Bente Ulvestad

  2. Center for Clinical Heart Research, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Norway

    Ingebjørg Seljeflot

  3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Ingebjørg Seljeflot

  4. Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway

    Magny Thomassen

  5. Department of Occupational Medicine, Mesta AS, Lysaker, Norway

    Bente Ulvestad

Authors
  1. Dag G. Ellingsen
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  2. Ingebjørg Seljeflot
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  3. Yngvar Thomassen
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  4. Magny Thomassen
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  5. Berit Bakke
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  6. Bente Ulvestad
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dag G. Ellingsen.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

The study was carried out with financial support from Statoil Working Environment Fund (Norway) and The Fund for Regional Safety Representatives for Building and Construction Activities (Norway).

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Ellingsen, D.G., Seljeflot, I., Thomassen, Y. et al. Biomarkers of endothelial activation and thrombosis in tunnel construction workers exposed to airborne contaminants. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 90, 309–317 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-017-1199-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-017-1199-x

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