tingling or numbness, transient loss of memory, and depression. Spirometry revealed
impairment of lung function in 62% of the landfill workers compared to 27% of the controls.
Sputum cytology showed
squamous metaplasia, abundance of inflammatory cells, alveolar macrophages (AM) and siderophages (macrophages
with iron deposits), and high elastase enzyme activity in neutrophils and AM of a majority of landfill workers,
indicating adverse cellular lung reaction.