Specific Characteristics of Clinical and Allergic Profiles of a Staff Exposed to Chemical Agents
Study Objective: To identify the specific characteristics of the clinical and allergic profiles of the staff of a Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility (CWDF) located in Gorny, an urban-type settlement, in the Saratov Region of the Russian Federation. This was based on the results of a 3-year follow-up. Materials and Methods: Some 419 people comprised the main group from the CWDF staff. They were examined at Medical Unit 49 during their field work. These examinations were performed at the time of scheduled medical follow-ups. The control group included 716 people living in the surrounding areas. Study subjects completed screening questionnaires specifically developed to detect allergic (AD) disorders and immune deficiency at early stages. They also underwent clinical examinations and had laboratory and allergy tests. Medical documents of CWDF staff were reviewed and analyzed. Results: The study showed a high prevalence of AD in CWDF staff and in people living in the surrounding areas (on average 26.1% and 24.3%, respectively). In the main group, the most common AD were hay fever (18.6-34.8%) and drug-induced allergies (6.5-15.2%); in the control group the most common AD were hay fever (18.6-32.7%), allergic dermatoses (3.5-26.2%), and asthma (2.3-6.8%). The study also revealed a high prevalence of latent sensitization in study subjects. Conclusion: The study results suggest that even low-dose chemical exposures may lead to immune deficiency, which is characterized by shifts in lymphocyte differentiation to Th2 cytokines.