Exposure to ethylene oxide in hospitals: biological monitoring and influence of glutathione S-transferase and epoxide hydrolase polymorphisms.

Ethylene oxide is considered as a human carcinogen. A biomarker of exposure would be a useful instrument to assess the risk in occupationally exposed workers. This cross-sectional study aimed at examining (a) whether the urinary excretion of a metabolite of ethylene oxide, 2-hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid (HEMA), could be used for monitoring occupational exposure and (b) whether glutathione S-transferase (GST) and epoxide hydrolase genotypes influenced biological monitoring.

Surfactant protein A, exposure to endotoxin, and asthma in garbage collectors and in wastewater workers.

Endotoxin causes an inflammation at the bronchial and alveolar level. The inflammation-induced increase in permeability of the bronchoalveolar epithelial barrier is supposed to cause a leakage of pneumoproteins. Therefore, their concentrations are expected to increase in the bloodstream.

Cadmium, lung and prostate cancer: a systematic review of recent epidemiological data.

Cadmium (Cd) and its compounds were classified as "carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)" by IARC in 1993. The observation of an increased number of lung cancers in a U.S.

A systematic review of cytogenetic studies conducted in human populations exposed to cadmium compounds.

Background: Exposure to cadmium fumes or dusts has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer and the characterisation of the genotoxic potential of cadmium compounds is, among other possible mechanisms, an important element in the assessment of the carcinogenic hazard of the element. While there is some evidence that in experimental systems, cadmium compounds may exert genotoxic effects, the results of the epidemiological studies having examined cytogenetic endpoints in humans exposed to cadmium appear conflicting. Therefore, a systematic review was undertaken to assess whether a cytogenetic effect of cadmium exposure is supported by the studies with the strongest design.