Fluoride has been in focus as a possible causal agent for respiratory symptoms amongst aluminium potroom workers for several decades. Previously, using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), we demonstrated airway inflammation in healthy volunteers 24 hours after exposure to hydrogen fluoride (HF). The objective of the present study was to examine early lung responses to HF exposure. Bronchoscopy with BAL was performed 2 hours after the end of 1-hour exposure to HF. Significant reductions in the total cell number and the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes were observed in bronchoalveolar portion (BAP), whereas there were no significant changes in the bronchial portion (BP). Significantly decreased concentrations of b2-MG, IL-6 and total protein were found in both BAP and BP. Additionally, IL-8 was significantly reduced in BP, and ICAM-1 and albumin were present in lower concentrations in BAP. Lung function measurements were not affected by HF exposure. These reported effects are presumably transitory, as many were not present in the airways 24 hours after a similar HF exposure.
1 Field GB . Occupational asthma in aluminum smelters . Aus N Z J Med1975; 5: 475–483 .
2.
2 Field GB . Pulmonary function in aluminium smelters . Thorax1984; 39: 743–751 .
3.
3 Frostad EW . Fluorine intoxication in Norwegian aluminum plant workers . Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen1936; 56: 179–182 .
4.
4 Kongerud J , Gronnesby JK , Magnus P . Respiratory symptoms and lung function of aluminum pot-room workers . Scand J Work Environ Health1990; 16: 270–277 .
5.
5 Midttun O . Bronchial asthma in aluminum industry . Acta Allergol1960; 15: 208–221 .
6.
6 O'Donnell TV , Welford B , Coleman ED . Potroom asthma: New Zealand experience and follow-up . Am J Ind Med1989; 15: 43–49 .
7.
7 Saric M , Zuskin E , Gomzi M . Bronchoconstriction in potroom workers . Br J Ind Med1979; 36: 211–215 .
8.
8 Wergeland E , Lund E , Waage JE . Respiratory dysfunction after potroom asthma . Am J Ind Med1987; 11: 627–636 .
9.
9 Abramson MJ , Wlodarczyk JH , Saunders NA , Hensley MJ . Does aluminum smelting cause lung disease?Am Rev Respir Dis1989; 139: 1042–1057 .
10.
10 Walker TJ . Hygienic aspects of aluminium reduction. In Hughes JP ed. Health protection in primary aluminium production. London: International Primary Aluminium Institute , 1978: 23–29.
11.
11 Kongerud J , Samuelsen SO . A longitudinal study of respiratory symptoms in aluminum potroom workers . Am Rev Respir Dis1991; 144: 10–16 .
12.
12 Soyseth V , Kongerud J . Prevalence of respiratory disorders among aluminium potroom workers in relation to exposure to fluoride . Br J Ind Med1992; 49: 125–130 .
13.
13 Soyseth V , Kongerud J , Ekstrand J , Boe J . Relation between exposure to fluoride and bronchial responsiveness in aluminium potroom workers with work-related asthma-like symptoms . Thorax1994; 49: 984–989 .
14.
14 Sostrand P , Kongerud J , Eduard W , Nilsen T , Skogland M , Boe J . A test chamber for experimental hydrogen fluoride exposure in humans . Am Ind Hyg Assoc J1997; 58: 521–525 .
15.
15 Lund K , Ekstrand J , Boe J , Sostrand P , Kongerud J . Exposure to hydrogen fluoride: an experimental study in humans of concentrations of fluoride in plasma, symptoms, and lung function . Occup Environ Med1997; 54: 32–37 .
16.
16 Lund K , Refsnes M , Sandstrom T , Sostrand P , Schwarze P , Boe J , et al. Increased CD3 positive cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after hydrogen fluoride inhalation . Scand J Work Environ Health1999; 25: 326–334 .
17.
17 Lund K , Refsnes M , Ramis I , Dunster C , Boe J , Schwarze PE , et al. Human exposure to hydrogen fluoride induces acute neutrophilic, eicosanoid, and antioxidant changes in nasal lavage fluid . Inhal Toxicol2002; 14: 119–132 .
18.
18 Baggiolini M , Clark-Lewis I . Interleukin-8, a chemo tactic and inflammatory cytokine . FEBS Lett1992; 307: 97–101 .
19.
19 Till G , Kownatzki E , Seitz M , Gemsa D . Chemokinetic and chemotactic activity of various prostaglandins for neutrophil granulocytes . Clin Immunol Immunopathol1979; 12: 111–118 .
20.
20 Shalaby MR , Waage A , Aarden L , Espevik T . Endo toxin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1 induce interleukin 6 production in vivo . Clin Immunol Immunopathol1989; 53: 488–498 .
21.
21 Crestani B , Cornillet P , Dehoux M , Rolland C , Guenounou M , Aubier M . Alveolar type II epithelial cells produce interleukin-6 in vitro and in vivo. Regulation by alveolar macrophage secretory products . J Clin Invest1994; 94: 731–740 .
22.
22 Luster MI , Simeonova PP , Gallucci R , Matheson J . Tumor necrosis factor alpha and toxicology . Crit Rev Toxicol1999; 29: 491–511 .
23.
23 Martin LD , Rochelle LG , Fischer BM , Krunkosky TM , Adler KB . Airway epithelium as an effector of inflammation: molecular regulation of secondary mediators . Eur Respir J1997; 10: 2139–2146 .
24.
24 Canetti C , Silva JS , Ferreira SH , Cunha FQ . Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and leukotriene B-4 mediate the neutrophil migration in immune inflammation . Br J Pharmacol2001; 134: 1619–1628 .
25.
25 Nettesheim P , Bader T . Tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulates arachidonic acid metabolisms and mucus production in rat tracheal epithelial cell cultures . Toxicol Lett1996; 88: 35–37 .
26.
26 Devlin RB , McDonnell WF , Becker S , Madden MC , McGee MP , Perez R , et al. Time-dependent changes of inflammatory mediators in the lungs of humans exposed to 0.4 ppm ozone for 2 hr: a comparison of mediators found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 1 and 18 hr after exposure . Toxicol Appl Pharmacol1996; 138: 176–185 .
27.
27 Koren HS , Devlin RB , Becker S , Perez R , McDonnell WF . Time-dependent changes of markers associated with inflammation in the lungs of humans exposed to ambient levels of ozone . Toxicol Pathol1991; 19: 406–411 .
28.
28 Schelegle ES , Siefkin AD , McDonald RJ . Time course of ozone-induced neutrophilia in normal humans . Am Rev Respir Dis1991; 143: 1353–1358 .
29.
29 Blomberg A , Krishna MT , Bocchino V , Biscione GL , Shute JK , Kelly FJ , et al. The inflammatory effects of 2 ppm NO2 on the airways of healthy subjects . Am J Respir Crit Care Med1997; 156: 418–424 .
30.
30 Cantin AM , North SL , Hubbard RC , Crystal RG . Normal alveolar epithelial lining fluid contains high levels of glutathione . J Appl Physiol1987; 63: 152–157 .
31.
31 Cross CE , van d, V , O'Neill CA , Louie S , Halliwell B . Oxidants, antioxidants, and respiratory tract lining fluids . Environ Health Perspect1994; 102: 185–191 .
32.
32 Kelly FJ , Blomberg A , Frew AJ , Holgate ST , Sandstrom T . Antioxidant kinetics in lung lavage fluid following exposure of humans to nitrogen dioxide . Am J Respir Crit Care Med1996; 154: 1700–1705 .
33.
33 Slade R , Crissman K , Norwood J , Hatch G . Comparison of antioxidant substances in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and fluid from humans, guinea pigs, and rats . Exp Lung Res1993; 19: 469–484 .
34.
34 Kelly FJ , Cotgrove M , Mudway IS . Respiratory tract lining fluid antioxidants: the first line of defence against gaseous pollutants . Central Eur J Pub Health1996; 4: Suppl-4.
35.
35 Blomberg A . Airway inflammatory and antioxidant responses to oxidative and particulate air pollutantsexperimental exposure studies in humans . Clin Exp Allergy2000; 30: 310–317 .
36.
36 Ramis I , Rosello-Catafau J , Artigot M , Bulbena O , Picado C , Gelpi E . Simultaneous reversed-phase extraction of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid in nasal secretions: methodological aspects . J Chromatogr1990; 532: 217–225 .
37.
37 Baker MA , Cerniglia GJ , Zaman A . Microtiter plate assay for the measurement of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in large numbers of biological samples . Anal Biochem1990; 190: 360–365 .
38.
38 Mudway IS , Housley D , Eccles R , Richards RJ , Datta AK , Tetley TD , et al. Differential depletion of human respiratory tract antioxidants in response to ozone challenge . Free Radic Res1996; 25: 499–513 .
39.
39 Iriyama K , Yoshiura M , Iwamoto T , Ozaki Y . Simultaneous determination of uric and ascorbic acids in human serum by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection . Anal Biochem1984; 141: 238–243 .
40.
40 Wayner DD , Burton GW , Ingold KU , Barclay LR , Locke SJ . The relative contributions of vitamin E, urate, ascorbate and proteins to the total peroxyl radicaltrapping antioxidant activity of human blood plasma . Biochim Biophys Acta1987; 924: 408–419 .
41.
41 Brain J . The uptake of inhaled gases by the nose . Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1970; 79: 529–540 .
42.
42 Frank NR . SO2 (35S-labeled) absorption by the nose and mouth under conditions of varying concentration and flow . Arch Environ Health1969; 18: 315–322 .
43.
43 Stavert DM , Archuleta DC , Behr MJ , Lehnert BE . Relative acute toxicities of hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen bromide in nose and pseudo-mouth-breathing rats . Fundam Appl Toxicol1991; 16: 636–655 .
44.
44 Blomberg A , Krishna MT , Helleday R , Soderberg M , Ledin MC , Kelly FJ , et al. Persistent airway inflammation but accommodated antioxidant and lung function responses after repeated daily exposure to nitrogen dioxide . Am J Respir Crit Care Med1999; 159: 536–543 .
45.
45 Blomberg A , Mudway IS , Nordenhall C , Hedenstrom H , Kelly FJ , Frew AJ , et al. Ozone-induced lung function decrements do not correlate with early airway inflammatory or antioxidant responses . Eur Respir J1999; 13: 1418–1428 .
46.
46 Bosson J , Stenfors N , Bucht A , Helleday R , Pourazar J , Holgate ST , et al. Ozone-induced bronchial epithelial cytokine expression differs between healthy and asthmatic subjects . Clin Exp Allergy2003; 33: 777–782 .
47.
47 Bosson J , Pourazar J , Kelly FJ , Frew AJ , Sandstrom T , Blomberg A . Exposure to ozone downregulates the epithelial expression of NFkB and IL-8 in healthy human subjects . ATS2004.
48.
48 Raza SL , Cornelius LA . Matrix metalloproteinases: pro and anti-angiogenic activities . J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc2000; 5: 47–54 .
49.
49 Strieter RM , Kunkel SL . Acute lung injury: the role of cytokines in the elicitation of neutrophils . J Investig Med1994; 42: 640–651 .
50.
50 Holland RI . Fluoride inhibition of protein synthesis . Cell Biol Int Rep1979; 3: 701–705 .
51.
51 Holland RI . Fluoride inhibition of protein and DNA synthesis in cells in vitro . Acta Pharmacol Toxicol1979; 45: 96–101 .
52.
52 Kelly FJ , Tetley TD . Nitrogen dioxide depletes uric acid and ascorbic acid but not glutathione from lung lining fluid . Biochem J1997; 325: 95–99 .
