Exposure-response relationships for endotoxin as measured in dust and longitudinal decline in lung function were studied. A cohort of 171 pig farmers was followed over a 3-yr period. Long-term average exposure to dust and endotoxin was determined by personal monitoring in summer and winter, using data on farm characteristics and activities. Mean decline in FEV1 was 73 ml/yr and in FVC 55 ml/ yr. Long-term average exposure to dust was 2.63 mg/m3 (geometric SD [GSD] 1.30), and to endotoxin, 105 ng/m3 (GSD 1.5). Annual decline in FEV1 was significantly associated with endotoxin exposure. An increase in exposure with a factor 2 was associated with an extra decline of FEV1 of 19 ml/yr.

During the winter of 198811989, the relathhips between the p r d e of work-related health and indoor climate complaints and a number of building, management, workplace and personal characteristics have been investigated in a study in mure than 60 office buildings located throughout the Netherlands.To collect the infomzation, a questionnaire was prepared on health and indoor climate complaints and pmonal and workplace characteristics. A checklkt was used to obtain information on building charactmitics More than 7000 questionnaires were completed by the regular u s m of the buildings investtgated.The results showed that the prevalence of symptoms was higher in air-conditioned butldings than in naturally or mechanically ventilated buildings. Some other vanabh were also related with most work-related complaints a& adjustment for selected management, personal, workplace and job characteristics. These included g&, work satisfation in general, presence of allqaes andlor respiratory sympwms, and personal control over temperature at the workplace. No differences were found in s y m p t o m prevalences between buildings with spray and steam humidiificatirm. The combination of air-conditioning and humtdiification did mt lead to further increases in the prevalence of complaints as compared to buildings with only airconditioning or only humidification.

Rationale: Associations between oligomeric isocyanate exposure, sensitization, and respiratory disease have received little attention, despite the extensive use of isocyanate oligomers. Objectives: To investigate exposure-response relationships of respiratory symptoms and sensitization in a large population occupationally exposed to isocyanate oligomers during spray painting. Methods: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and sensitization was assessed in 581 workers in the spray-painting industry. Personal exposure was estimated by combining personal task-based inhalatory exposure measurements and time activity information. Specific IgE and IgG to hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) were assessed in serum by ImmunoCAP assay and enzyme immunoassays using vapor and liquid phase HDI-human serum albumin (HDI-HSA) and HSA conjugates prepared with oligomeric HDI. Measurements and Main Results: Respiratory symptoms were more prevalent in exposed workers than among comparison office workers. Log-linear exposure-response associations were found for asthmalike symptoms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like symptoms, and work-related chest tightness (prevalence ratios for an interquartile range increase in exposure of 1.2, 1.3 and 2.0, respectively; P < 0.05). The prevalence of specific IgE sensitization was low (up to 4.2% in spray painters). Nevertheless, IgE to N100 (oligomeric HDI)-HSA was associated with exposure and workrelated chest tightness. The prevalence of specific IgG was higher (2-50.4%) and strongly associated with exposure. Conclusions:The results provide evidence of exposure-response relationships for both work-related and non-work-related respiratory symptoms and specific sensitization in a population exposed to oligomers of HDI. Specific IgE was found in only a minority of symptomatic individuals. Specific IgG seems to be merely an indicator of exposure.

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