Background: Occupational exposure to cotton dust, fibers, metal fumes and different chemicals used in the apparel manufacturing industries cause a wide range of physical and psychological health problems in the garment workers that may also affect their immune function. Objective: To assess the immune system function in garment workers. Methods: A total of 45 workers of a garment factory, and 41 control subjects, not exposed to the garment working environment were enrolled in this study. In the study subjects, the complement system function was assessed as bactericidal activity on Escherichia coli DH5α cells using the standard plate count method. Serum complement components C 3 and C 4 were measured by immunoprecipitation, and IgG was measured by immunonephelometry. Results: The bactericidal activity of serum complement in the garment workers (range: 93.5%–99.9%) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that in the controls (range: 98.6%–100%). The heat-inactivated serum of the workers showed a significantly enhanced bactericidal activity. In the garment workers, the mean levels of complement C 3 , and C 4 were 1.75 and 0.26 g/L, respectively that were close to those of the controls. The mean IgG level in the garment workers was 13.5 g/L that was significantly (p<0.001) higher than that in the controls. Conclusion: Working in a garment factory may affect the immune system.
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机译：背景：在服装制造业使用的棉尘，纤维，金属烟尘和不同化学物质的职业接触会给制衣工人带来各种生理和心理健康问题，也可能影响他们的免疫功能。目的：评估服装工人的免疫系统功能。方法：本研究共招募了一家服装工厂的45名工人和41名未暴露在服装工作环境中的控制对象。在研究对象中，使用标准平板计数法将补体系统功能评估为对大肠杆菌DH5α细胞的杀菌活性。通过免疫沉淀测量血清补体成分C 3和C 4，通过免疫比浊法测量IgG。结果：服装工人血清补体的杀菌活性（范围：93.5％–99.9％）显着（p <0.01）低于对照组（范围：98.6％–100％）。工人的热灭活血清显示出明显增强的杀菌活性。在制衣工人中，补体C 3和C 4的平均水平分别为1.75和0.26 g / L，与对照组的水平相近。服装工人的平均IgG水平为13.5 g / L，显着（p <0.001）高于对照组。结论：在服装厂工作可能会影响免疫系统。
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