Pulmonary effects of exposure to indium and its compounds: cross-sectional survey of exposed workers and experimental findings in rodents

Table 1 Characteristics of subjects of in controls and indium-exposed workers in China

Characteristic	Controls (n = 63)	Workers (n = 57)	P
Age (years)^a	39.32 (18–60)	37.82 (22–59)	0.44
Sex n (%)^b			0.89
Male	46 (73.02)	41 (71.93)
Female	17 (26.98)	16 (28.07)
BMI (kg/m²)^c	23.62 (15.5–37.8)	24.50 (15.0–39.0)	0.46
FVC (%)^c	95.42 (80.20–129.60)	91.03 (80.20–125.60)	0.384
FEV₁ (%)^c	95.63 (54.20–80.60)	91.46 (80.40–109.60)	0.023^e
FEV₁ /FVC (%)^c	102.49 (81.48–117.32	100.60 (80.55–117.12)	0.588
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)^a	124.59 (101–151)	125.40 (96–166)	0.65
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)^a	74.90 (55–97)	74.63 (52–106)	0.53
Smoking n (%)^d			0.17
Yes	31 (49.21)	21 (36.84)
No	32 (50.79)	36 (63.16)
Drinking n (%)^d			0.98
Yes	20 (31.75)	18 (31.58)
No	43 (68.25)	39 (68.42)
Job duration (years)	–	8.31 (1–24)
Airborne indium (μg/m³)	–	78.41 (1–1120)
Serum indium (μg/L)^f	4.93 ± 0.35	39.26 ± 3.39	< 0.001
Urine indium (ng/g creatinine)^f	2.23 ± 0.25	11.00 ± 1.67	< 0.001

^aData represent Mean (range) and P value was calculated by Wilcoxon rank-sum test
^bOne-way ANOVA
^cData represent Mean (range) and P value was calculated by multiple linear regression analysis
^dχ² test
^eSignificant difference compared to the control group (P < 0.05)
^fComparison of medians was performed by multiple linear regression analysis after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, and drinking status (P < 0.001)

ISSN: 1743-8977