Indium lung disease: Natural history and underlying mechanism

在研究期间，我们在10家ITO制造和回收工厂进行了队列研究，在11家铟金属和合金处理工厂进行了横断面研究，进行了风险沟通活动，并对潜在机制进行了血清或尿液生化研究。队列研究显示，重度铟暴露的工人在HRCT上表现出加重的肺气肿变化。横断面研究发现，从事金属铟高温熔融过程（bb0 ~ 1000℃）的工人是肺效应的高危人群。gm - csf相关的潜在机制不太可能，除肺部影响外，未发现其他健康影响。我们认为，自2003年以来，我们的铟研究和风险沟通活动对预防新的铟肺病发病率和修订2014年1月1日实施的《职业安全与健康法》做出了巨大贡献。

During the study period, we performed cohort studies at 10 ITO manufacturing and recycling factories, cross-sectional studies at 11 indium metal and alloy handling factories, risk communication activities, and serum or urinary biochemical researches for underlying mechanisms. The cohort studies revealed that heavily indium exposed workers showed aggravation of emphysematous changes on HRCT. The cross-sectional studies disclosed that workers engaging in high-temperature melting process of indium metal (>1000 degrees C) were high-risk population of lung effects. GM-CSF-related underlying mechanism was unlikely, and no health effects other than lung effects were discovered.We believe that our indium studies and risk communication activities lasting from 2003 have greatly contributed to prevent new incidences of indium lung diseases, and to revise the Occupational Safety and Health Act enforcing on January 1st, 2014.