Objectives The inhalation of dust from swine confinement buildings causes inflammatoly responses in the airways with a rise of interleukin-6 (IL-6). The purpose of this study was to confirm the increase in serum IL-6 after inhalation of swine dust and investigate a possible increase in plasma fibrinogen. Methods Eight healthy nonsmoking volunteers inhaled dust for 4 hours inside a swine confinement building. Inhalable dust and endotoxin were sampled. The collcentrations of IL-6 and fibrinogen were determined in serum and plasma. Results The study showed a clear increase in the concentrations of IL-6 and fibrinogen after exposure. C O~C~U S~O~S As fibrinogen is an important risk factor for ischemic heart disease, the increased concentration of fibrinogen among persons exposed to swine dust may increase the risk for this disease.

Urinary fluoride concentrations have been measured in electric arc welders using basic electrodes. The fluoride concentration and the total welding fume concentration in air showed a linear relation with postshift urinary fluoride concentration. The measured concentrations were below internationally recommended postshift urinary fluoride concentrations believed to cause fluorosis. Biological monitoring by postshift urinary fluoride measurements is evaluated for the prediction of total welding fume exposure, when a specific basic electrode was used, by means of confidence limits and tests of validity.