Immune mechanisms of the formation of respiratory pathology in chronic intoxication with fluorine and its compounds

Introduction. The immune system of the body is sensitive to exposure to harmful substances in the workplace and the environment. The development of disorders of the cellular and humoral compartments of immunity system in patients with occupational diseases can contribute to the intensification of the infectious and inflammatory process and the progression of the disease.

Materials and methods. One hundred twenty one worker at an aluminum plant, men, with an average age of 52.39±0.37 years and 24.84±0.39 years of work experience in hazardous conditions, were examined. All of them underwent physical examinations, laboratory diagnostics, including a general clinical blood test, immune status analysis, acute phase inflammation indices, and a coagulogram.

Results. In patients with a combination of chronic occupational intoxication with fluoride compounds with respiratory pathology the (chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), there is noted the formation of deficiency the humoral immunity manifested by a decrease in the number of CD19+ (B-lymphocytes) and immunoglobulin G serum level, as well as a decline in the phagocytic activity of neutrophils compared with patients with isolated chronic occupational intoxication with fluoride compounds, respiratory pathology, as well as with the control group (who works in contact with fluorine and its compounds for a long time, without clinical signs of chronic occupational intoxication with fluoride compounds).

Limitations. This study is limited to a sample of workers in the main occupations of the aluminum industry who were examined at the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases.

Conclusion. In workers at aluminum production there have been identified immune mechanisms of the formation of the respiratory pathology (chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) with chronic occupational intoxication with fluorine and its compounds.

Compliance with ethical standards. In accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013), all subjects read and signed an informed consent to participate in the study, the protocol of which met the requirements of the Bioethics Committee of the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (Protocol of the Meeting No. 4, § 2 dated November 18, 2021).

Contribution:
Panev N.I. – concept and design of the study, collection of material, writing the text;
Krasilnikova P.L. – collection of material, writing the text;
Korotenko O.Yu. – collection of material, writing the text;
Rumpel O.A. – collection of material;
Semenova E.A. – collection of material.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: February 17, 2026 / Revised: March 2, 2026 / Accepted: March 24, 2026 / Published: May 18, 2026

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