肺功能障礙的特性為氣流阻塞與肺功能下降。過去研究顯示，暴露重金屬會導致肺功能下降，特別是暴露砷、鎘、銅之後，肺功能會急速下降。而造成肺功能障礙的主要原因為肺部發炎，而控制肺部發炎的細胞激素(cytokine)為介白素-6(Interleukin 6, IL-6)與介白素-8(Interleukin 8, IL-8)，當IL-6與IL-8釋放的越多，發炎反應用嚴重。
本研究為了瞭解暴露重金屬後，對肺功能還有細胞激素的影響，因此收集了台中后里區、大安區之受試者600名。選擇40歲以上該地區居民，且有完整的人口學變項數據、肺功能測定、重金屬測定數值。分析不同區域別、不同暴露風險，受試者的基礎資料了解其中差異，再根據肺功能、細胞激素、肺功能障礙分組，進行描述性分析，找出可能的干擾因子後，進行邏輯式回歸分析。
比較肺功能與重金屬的相關性中發現，肺功能有障礙或是肺功能低於標準組汞、銅濃度與正常組有顯著差異(P<0.05)；而細胞激素IL-6、VEGF分別與重金屬汞、銅有正相關。顯示重金屬汞、銅可能是造成肺功能障礙的危險因子。
Airflow obstruction and lung function decreasing are characteristics of lung function impairment. Regarding to previous studies, after people exposure to heavy metal especially As、Cd、Cu, the lung function getting rapid decline. Pneumonia is the major reason causing lung function impairment. Interleukin 6 and Interleukin 8 are cytokines regulating pneumonia, the more Interleukin 6 and Interleukin 8 release, the more severe pneumonia is.
To understand the impact that exposure of heavy metal bring to lung function and cytokines, this study samples 600 residents over the age of 40 in Da-an district and Houli district in Taichung, and collects their demographics data, lung function test and heavy metal measured value simultaneously. After learn the varieties between subjects by analyse their differences in district and exposure risks, we doing descriptive analysis grouped by lung function, cytokines, and lung function impairment. The last, find out possible confounding factors and analyze those factors by logistic regression.
The comparison in correlation between lung function and heavy metal showing two results as following. First, there is significant differences(P<0.05) between control and the group that have lung function impairment or worse lung function than standard group. Second, IL-6 and VEGF are positive correlated with Hg and Cu respectively. The result show that Cu and Hg is a possible risk factor lead to lung function impairment.
