Air Quality In Metal Industries: Exhaled Breath Condensate, A Tool For Noninvasive Evaluation Of Air Pollution Exposure

In occupational settings, exposure to metal dusts and fumes mainly occurs as a result of inhalation. At present, there is no direct biological indicator to assess exposure by inhalation, which is by far the major route for entrance of airborne pollutants into the body. Assessing inhaled hazardous substances noninvasively is the prospect held out by exhaled breath condensate (EBC) as a biomarker of exposure for the respiratory system. To explore the capabilities of EBC as an indicator of professional exposure to metals, workers of the lead (Pb) industry were chosen as a case study. Pb concentrations were measured in EBC at different time points of the working week and correlated with the Pb levels measured in the air particulate matter collected in the industries. Pb concentrations in EBC were dose dependent. The methodology proved reliable and can be extended to other metals. EBC as a noninvasive biomarker for the respiratory system is opening new avenues in risk assessment in occupational health.