Case reports of indium-related lung disease in workers have raised public concern to the human toxicity of indium (In) and its compounds. However, studies evaluating the exposure or health of workers in In smelting plants are rare. Therefore, in this study, we focused on four In smelting plants, with the main objective of characterizing In in smelter plants in China and discussing the potential exposure biomarkers of In exposure. We recruited 494 subjectsat four In smelting plants in China. Personal air samples, first morning urine and spot blood samples were collected. In concentrations in samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In concentrations in air samples did not exceed the permissible concentration-time weighed average, but the smelter workers had a higher internal exposure to In. Positive correlations were observed between the air In and urine In concentrations, and between the air In and blood In concentrations. This study provides basic data for the following In exposure and health risk assessment.
Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; blood ; urine ; Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Indium ; blood ; urine ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metallurgy ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Young Adult

Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

Humans ; Indium ; toxicity

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; chemistry ; Indium ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Occupational Exposure ; Spectrum Analysis ; methods ; Workplace

Humans ; Indium ; urine ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Spectrum Analysis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sensitization effect of different chemical modifiers in the determination of indium in whole blood by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, and to develop a new method for the determination of indium in whole blood.

METHODSA mixture of 0.3% HNO3 (V/V) + 0.1% Triton X-100 (V/V) was used as a diluent, and a solution of 1 000 µg/ml Pd (NO3)2 + 3 000 µg/ml Mg (NO3)2 was used as modifier. After being diluted five times, the concentration of indium of the blood was directly determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

RESULTSThe detection limit of the method was 0.33 µg/L, the linear range was 0.33~100.00 µg/L, the relative standard deviation was 1.43%~2.65%, and the recovery rate was 98.3%~105.3%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple and fast and has high recovery and precision, and it is suitable for the determination of indium in whole blood.

Blood Chemical Analysis ; instrumentation ; Graphite ; Humans ; Indium ; blood ; Limit of Detection ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical features of Indium-related lung diseases.

METHODSWe searched database of Chinese and Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science to collect research data of indium-related lung diseases from Jan. 1998 to Aprl. 2014. Case reports, exposure histories and lab results were analysed and summarized.

RESULTS1998 to Mar 2010, ten cases of indium-related lung diseases were published. Seven cases of interstitial pneumonia were reported in Japan, two cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) were reported in the USA and one case of PAP reported in China. Chest computer tomography (CT) showed diffuse or local ground glass appearance (GGA) in 8 cases, 3 of which also showed centrilobular nodules; Pulmonary function test were normal only in one out of 8 cases. Cholesterol clefts were found in 4 cases of interstitial pneumonia. 3 cases died among 6 cases who were followed-up.

CONCLUSIONSOccupational exposure to indium compounds are contributory to different pulmonary diseases, which are composed of interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. The relationships between In-C, In-S and these pulmonary diseases are unclear.

China ; Glass ; Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Japan ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; etiology ; pathology ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo understand the exposed positions and levels of indium and its compounds in manufacture of liquid crystal displays, and to evaluate the degree of occupational hazard from indium and its compounds.

METHODSOn-site investigation of occupational health, occupational hazard monitoring, and occupational health examination were used to evaluate the degree of occupational hazard from indium and its compounds in three manufacturers of liquid crystal display panel in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

RESULTSThe time-weighted average (TWA) and short-term exposure limit (STEL) concentrations of indium and its compounds to which sputtering machine operating positions were exposed were less than 0.002~0.004 mg/m³ and 0.006~0.007 mg/m³, respectively, both of which complied with the National Hygienic Standard (PC-TWA = 0.1 mg/m³; PC-STEL = 0.3 mg/m³); the TWA and STEL concentrations of indium and its compounds to which grinding positions were exposed were 0.114~2.98 mg/m³ and 0.31~10.02 mg/m³, respectively, both of which exceeded the National Hygienic Standard with the highest concentration 33-fold higher than the standard. No significant health damages were found in exposed workers according to the results of occupational health examination.

CONCLUSIONThe grinding positions are the key to the control of occupational hazard from indium and its compounds in manufacture of liquid crystal display panel. The workers should be equipped with the anti-particulate full-face respirator, which is an effective way to prevent occupational hazard from indium and its compounds.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; toxicity ; China ; Data Display ; Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Liquid Crystals ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Occupational Health ; Risk Assessment ; Threshold Limit Values

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentrations of indium chloride (InCl3) on the proliferation of human lung epithelial (Beas-2B) cells and its potential mechanism.

METHODSBeas-2B cells were exposed to different concentrations of InCl3 (0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10.0, 30.0, 90.0, 270.0, and 810.0 µmol/L) for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The effects of InCl3 on cell proliferation were determined by the CCK-8 assay. The effects of InCl3 on apoptosis were evaluated using annexin V-PI staining followed by flow cytometry. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Beas-2B cells after exposure to InCl3 was determined using 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate labeling followed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, InCl3 at a relatively low concentration (0.3~3.0 µmol/L) significantly promoted cell proliferation (P < 0.05), while InCl3 at a relatively high concentration (30.0~80.0 µmol/L) significantly inhibited cell proliferation after 72 h (P < 0.05). InCl3 at a concentration of 0.3 µmol/L failed to induce apoptosis within 72 h; however, InCl3 at a concentration of 30.0 or 810.0 µmol/L induced substantial early apoptosis after 72 h. Compared with the control group, cells exposed to 0.3 µmol/L InCl3 showed a slight decrease in the level of intracellular ROS within 72 h, while cells exposed to 30.0 or 810.0 µmol/L InCl3 showed a significant increase in the level of intracellular ROS after 72 h (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAt a low concentration, InCl3 stimulates cell proliferation by reducing intracellular ROS. However, at a high concentration, InCl3 inhibits cell viability by elevating intracellular ROS and inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of indium exposure on the relative content of mitochondrial ND1 gene in lymphocytes.

METHODSVenous blood was obtained from 14 healthy workers and anticoagulated with heparin. Blood lymphocytes were separated and divided into three tube cultures. For two tubes in the exposed group, indium chloride was added to final concentrations of 0.2 mmol/L and 0.8 mmol/L, respectively. For one tube in the control group, an equal volume of normal saline solution was added. After incubation for 72 h, the relative content of mitochondrial gene in each group was determined using quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTSLymphocytes exposed to 0.8 mmol/L indium chloride had a significantly higher relative content of mitochondrial gene than those exposed to 0.2 mmol/L indium chloride and those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLymphocytes exposed to a high concentration of indium and its compounds have an elevated relative content of mitochondrial ND1 gene, indicating increased oxidative DNA damage induced by exposure to a high concentration of indium and its compounds.

DNA Damage ; drug effects ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Humans ; Indium ; toxicity ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; NADH Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure