Respiratory Effects of Chronic Animal Feed Dust Exposure

Abstract

Respiratory Effects of Chronic AnimalFeed Dust Exposure: Sevin BASER, et al. Pulmonology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Turkey-Aim-The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of chronic work related respiratory symptoms and to determine lung function abnormalities in animal feed industry workers. Method-108 workers with a mean age of ± SD: 32 ± 7.11 yr employed in the animal feed industry and 108 unexposed subjects as a control group were enrolled in the study. All subjects filled out a questionnaire on their respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were conducted. Airborne dust (respirable fraction) was sampled during an 8-h work shift. Dust sampling was performed with a Casella AFC 123 machine. Results-A significantly higher prevalence of work related upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms such as cough (12%), dyspnea (5.6%) and sinusitis (8.3%) were found among the workers than in the control group (p=0.001, p=0.04 and p=0.008 respectively). Irritation symptoms such as pruritis of the eyes (11.1%), skin lesions (7.4%) and nose symptoms (8.3%) were also significantly higher among workers that in the control group (p=0.001, p=0.014 and p=0.005 respectively). The mean PFTs (predicted %) of the workers; forced vital capacity (FVC)% ± SD (85.23 ± 12.06), 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV 1 )% ± SD (88.73 ± 13.09), peak expiratory flow (PEF)% ± SD (70.64 ± 18.76) and forced expiratory flow rate at 25-75% of the FVC (FEF 25-75 )% ± SD (88.42 ± 25.94) were found significantly lower than in the control group ( p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 , p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 , p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 , p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 respectively). Our data indicate that exposure to animal feed dust is an important factor in the occurrence of respiratory symptoms and decline in lung functions. (J Occup Health 2003; 45: 324-330)

Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms among Workers in Industries of South Tehran, Iran

“…In study similar of respiratory symptoms among workers at a cement factory in a rapidly developing country reported recurrent cough (30%), phlegm (25%), dyspnea (21%) [18][19][20] . In other study, 86 workers (79.6%) had been working for less than 10 yr and 22 workers ( 20.4%) had been working for more than 10 yr, no differences were found between these two groups in the work related respiratory symptoms, that called this finding a "healthy worker effect" 21) . Also, our findings showed no significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers in the prevalence respiratory symptoms.…”

Schimmelpilzbelastung in Innenräumen – Befunderhebung, gesundheitliche Bewertung und Maßnahmen

“…B. sauren und alkalischen Substanzen [40], flüchtigen organischen Verbindungen (Volatile Organic Compounds = VOC) [41,42,43] und organischen Stäuben [44], werden auch Schimmelpilze [45] mit einer "Mucous Membrane Irritation" (MMI) 2 oder der chronischen Bronchitis assoziiert [46]. Die pathophysiologischen Zusammenhänge zwischen Expositionen gegenüber diesen Umweltfaktoren und der MMI oder der chronischen Bronchitis sind bisher nicht eindeutig geklärt, dem Schleimhautepithel und lokalen Neuronen wird jedoch eine Schlüsselrolle beim MMI zugeschrieben [40].…”

“…B. Trockenheitsgefühl, Räus-pern). Darüber hinaus können irritative entzündliche Prozesse in den tieferen Atemwegen sich als chronische Bronchitiden manifestieren [46].…”

Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Adults

“…For instance, in a casecontrol study, the rate of upper respiratory infections such as sinusitis was signifi cantly higher in animal feed industry workers who were exposed to airborne dust during an 8-hour work shift. 42 Concerning nasal polyposis, habitat and pollution in the workplace did not appear relevant in one study. 43 In contrast, another group found an association between the development of nasal polyps and both the use of a woodburning stove as a heat source (OR = 13) and occupational exposure to noxious inhalant compounds (OR = 6).…”