Lower Fractional Anisotropy in the Globus Pallidus of Asymptomatic Welders, a Marker for Long-Term Welding Exposure

Citation

Lee, Eun-Young; Flynn, Michael R.; Du, Guangwei; Lewis, Mechelle M.; Herring, Amy H.; Van Buren, Eric; Van Buren, Scott; Kong, Lan; Mailman, Richard B.; & Huang, Xuemei (2016). Lower Fractional Anisotropy in the Globus Pallidus of Asymptomatic Welders, a Marker for Long-Term Welding Exposure. Toxicological Sciences, 153(1), 165-173. PMCID: PMC5013881

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Welding fumes contain several metals including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) that at high exposure may co-influence welding-related neurotoxicity. The relationship between brain accumulation of these metals and neuropathology, especially in welders with subclinical exposure levels, is unclear. This study examined the microstructural integrity of basal ganglia (BG) regions in asymptomatic welders using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
METHODS: Subjects with (n = 43) and without (age- and gender-matched controls; n = 31) history of welding were studied. Occupational questionnaires estimated short-term (HrsW; welding hours and E90; cumulative exposure, past 90 days) and long-term (YrsW; total years welding and ELT; cumulative exposure, lifetime) exposure. Whole blood metal levels (Mn, Fe, and Cu) were obtained. Brain MRI pallidal index (PI), R1 (1/T1), and R2* (1/T2*) were measured to estimate Mn and Fe accumulation in BG [caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus (GP)]. DTI was used to assess BG microstructural differences, and related with exposure measurements.
RESULTS: When compared with controls, welders had significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the GP. In welders, GP FA values showed non-linear relationships to YrsW, blood Mn, and PI. GP FA decreased after a critical level of YrsW or Mn was reached, whereas it decreased with increasing PI values until plateauing at the highest PI values. GP FA, however, did not show any relationship with short-term exposure measurements (HrsW, E90), blood Cu and Fe, or R2* values.
CONCLUSION: GP FA captured microstructural changes associated with chronic low-level Mn exposure, and may serve as a biomarker for neurotoxicity in asymptomatic welders.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfw116

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2016

Journal Title

Toxicological Sciences

Author(s)

Lee, Eun-Young
Flynn, Michael R.
Du, Guangwei
Lewis, Mechelle M.
Herring, Amy H.
Van Buren, Eric
Van Buren, Scott
Kong, Lan
Mailman, Richard B.
Huang, Xuemei

PMCID

PMC5013881