Relationship of airborne microorganisms with the lung function and leucocyte levels of workers with a history of humidifier fever.

Kateman, E; Heederik, Dick; Pal, Teake; Smeets, Monique; Smid, Tjabe; Spitteler, M

doi:10.5271/sjweh.1764

Cited by 34 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…In the years 1984-1989, the medical department of the plant had a tendency not to pass subjects with a history of asthma-like symptoms for employment in a workplace environment with exposure to oil mist and oil vapour. This was necessary because respiratory problems that resembled the syndrome of endotoxin fever had been reported, resulting in transfer of a few workers [13], although the respiratory problems reported were not accompanied by an increased AHR. The other exposure groups were not subjected to pre-employment selections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure to airborne viable materials from the cold water spray system was possible. Results of an occupational exposure study showed low concentrations of airborne Gram-negative bacteria (n=6; GM 47 colony forming units (cfu)·m -3 ), of fungi (n=6; GM 7.5 cfu·m -3 ), and of personal exposure to endotoxin (n=5; GM 64 pg·m -3 ) [13]. 6) Polyamide and polyester vapour group.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Airway hyperresponsiveness in workers exposed to low levels of irritants

Kremer¹,

Pal²,

Schouten³

et al. 1995

Eur Respir J

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A Ai ir rw wa ay y h hy yp pe er rr re es sp po on ns si iv ve en ne es ss s i in n w wo or rk ke er rs s e ex xp po os se ed d t to o l lo ow w l le ev ve el ls s o of f i ir rr ri it ta an nt ts s ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between occupational exposure to low levels of airway irritants, and airway responsiveness to histamine. In 688 male workers, symptom prevalence was assessed according to the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) questionnaire. All subjects performed a 30 s tidal breathing challenge test. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was defined as a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) at ≤32 mg·ml -1 histamine. On the basis of job titles and working department, the exposure status of all workers was characterized into seven groups: 1) reference group; 2) white collars; 3) SO 2 , HCl, SO 4 2-; 4) polyester vapour; 5) oil mist and oil vapour; 6) polyamide and polyester vapour; and 7) multiple exposures.Using multiple logistic regression, no association was found between the exposure groups and a higher prevalence of AHR. A higher prevalence was significantly associated with a low FEV 1 , a history of allergy, and the presence of chronic respiratory symptoms. Subjects in the SO 2 group and the oil mist group with ≤5 exposure years had a lower prevalence of AHR, probably due to pre-employment selection procedures. There was some trend for subjects with more than 5 yrs exposure to polyester vapour and to oil mist and to oil vapour to have a higher prevalence of AHR. Analyses using the dose-response slope according to O'Connor, revealed similar results and provides no additional information.We conclude that no association could be demonstrated between low grade exposure to airway irritants and airway hyperresponsiveness, and that further research is needed to elucidate this relationship.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Airway hyperresponsiveness in workers exposed to low levels of irritants

Kremer¹,

Pal²,

Schouten³

et al. 1995

Eur Respir J

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“…Details of sampling methods and analyses are given elsewhere. 13 Several proxies of exposure were available.…”

Section: Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Decline in lung function related to exposure and selection processes among workers in the grain processing and animal feed industry.

1998

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Objectives-To follow up workers in the grain processing and animal feed industry five years after an initial survey, and to monitor exposures to organic dust and endotoxin and changes in prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function. Methods-Outcome measures in the present survey were decline in lung function over five years, rapid annual decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) above 90 ml.s , the estimated eVect on the FEV 1 would be a decline of 157 ml.s -1 (95% CI 13 to 300)-that is, about 4% of the group mean FEV 1 and 473 ml.s -1 (95% CI 127 to 800) of the MMEF (about 12%). Workers with a dust exposure >4 mg.m -3 or endotoxin concentrations >20 ng.m -3 at the 1986-8 survey had significantly higher risk of rapid decline in FEV 1 (odds ratio (OR) 3.3, 95% CI 1.02 to 10.3). The relations between occupational exposure and decline in lung function in this study occurred, despite the selection through the healthy worker eVect that occurred as well. Increasing working years was related to decreasing annual decline in FEV 1 and fewer people with rapid decline in FEV 1 (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0 to 0.61 for over 20 v <5 working years in the grain processing and animal feed industry). The presence of respiratory symptoms at baseline was a strong predictor of subsequent loss to follow up. Baseline lung function was not found to be predictive of subsequent loss to follow up. However, among workers lost to follow up the number of working years was more strongly negatively related to baseline lung function than among the workers who were studied longitudinally. Conclusions-The existence of the healthy worker eVect implies that an exposureresponse relation in the grain processing and animal feed industry may well be underestimated. This should be taken into account when health based recommended limit values are to be developed. (Occup Environ Med 1998;55:349-355)

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“…The dust sampled resembled the inspirable dust fraction that is characteriied by a 50% cut-off diameter of 30 km, and passes the mouth and nostrils when inhaled [ISO, 19811. In the samples, gravimetric dust concentrations and endotoxin levels were determined using the LAL-test as described by Kateman et al [1990]. Details of the samplirig strategy and methods and of the laboratory analyses used are given in Smid et a].…”

Section: Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Dust‐ and endotoxin‐related acute lung function changes and work‐related symptoms in workers in the animal feed industry

Smid¹,

Heederik²,

Houba³

et al. 1994

American J Industrial Med

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Reported respiratory and related symptoms during work were compared between 265 exposed animal feed workers and a control group consisting of 175 external controls and nonexposed workers in the animal feed industry. Symptoms indicating respiratory and nasal irritation were significantly increased in the animal feed workers. Prevalences ranged from 9% (cough) to 21% (sneezing). Reported cough after work was also significantly increased. In 119 workers, a total of 457 across-shift spirometric lung function changes were measured. Almost all lung function variables showed a decrease during the work shift, as could be expected since the circadian rhythm is in a downward phase during the measurement period (2 p.m.-10 p.m.). When the workers were grouped into dust and endotoxin exposure categories according to their job titles, and exposure-response trend was seen for maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) and maximum expiratory flow rate at 50% of vital capacity (MEF50). The effect of endotoxin was stronger than that of dust, both in magnitude and significance. For the same lung function variables and for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and MEF25, a significant across-week change was also detected. The results of this study are in concordance with other studies that indicate acute effects on lung function and elevated prevalences of respiratory symptoms during work caused by exposure to grain dust.

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Relationship of airborne microorganisms with the lung function and leucocyte levels of workers with a history of humidifier fever.

Cited by 34 publications

References 26 publications

Airway hyperresponsiveness in workers exposed to low levels of irritants

Airway hyperresponsiveness in workers exposed to low levels of irritants

Decline in lung function related to exposure and selection processes among workers in the grain processing and animal feed industry.

Dust‐ and endotoxin‐related acute lung function changes and work‐related symptoms in workers in the animal feed industry

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