Table 4. The levels of cytokines and CRP in serum of the controls and DEE exposed workers (median, 5%–95%).

	Control (n = 108)	DEE exposed workers (n = 137)	P crude  a	P adjust  b
IL-1β (pg ml–1)	3.29 (0.21–16.73)	1.18 (0.09–11.70)	0.002	0.004
IL-6 (pg ml–1)	27.59 (1.70–141.04)	15.34 (0.80–68.34)	<0.001	<0.001
IL-8 (pg ml–1)	608.60 (157.18–1725.36)	414.40 (0.60–1170.84)	<0.001	<0.001
MIP-1β (pg ml–1)	821.03 (235.40–2810.92)	611.29 (0.40–2002.62)	0.001	0.002
TNF-α (pg ml–1)	78.43 (0.60–195.90)	74.83 (0.60–171.37)	0.858	0.745
MCP-1 (pg ml–1)	225.95 (70.12–420.64)	222.21 (0.65–420.09)	0.034	0.071
CRP (mg L–1)	0.10 (0.07–4.48)	0.70 (0.07–4.95)	<0.001	<0.001

^a t-test between the control and DEE-exposed groups.

^bAdjusted for age, smoking and alcohol status, and BMI.