Nasal epithelium changes related to exposure to a mixture of organic solvents in hospital pathologists in Mexico City

Introduction
Chronic exposure to formaldehyde, xylene, glutaraldehyde, resins, waxes or their mixtures, has been associated with presence of respiratory tract cancer in industrial workers. In a group of pathologists, the cytology of the nasal mucosa was evaluated to study the association between this occupational exposure to a mixture of organic solvents and its effect in the nasal epithelium.

Methods
A cross-sectional study with 39 workers divided into 3 subgroups: 10 exposed, 10 indirectly exposed and unexposed 19, was performed. Nasal epithelium samples were taken from using a cytobruch. Information about age, sex, age, smoking and alcohol was also collected. The data were analyzed using the SPSS-19 software. The Chi-square test was use to identify difference among groups and linear regression analysis to identify the variables most related to the nasal cytological results.

Results
The degree of nasal epithelial cell damage has finding significant difference (p=0.000) between the groups. The highest percentage of metaplasia was observed in the directly exposed (90%) and indirectly (80%) exposed. Cellular atypia was also more frequent in directly (60%) and indirectly (70%) exposed and no pathological changes were observed in the non-exposed group. Linear regression showed an important association among the percentage of cells with metaplasia and being directly exposed, male, age and smoking (R =0 .687, F=21, p=0.000)

Discussion
This study highlights the important damage caused in the nasal epithelium by the occupational exposure to mixtures of organic solvents; these damages may also be caused in the pulmonary tissue. If this occupational exposure continues without a reduction, there is a high risk of developing in this population cancer at the upper and lower respiratory tract.