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PubMed1999

Comparative personal exposures to organic dusts and endotoxin.

The aims of the study were to provide valid comparative data for personal exposures to dust and endotoxins for different occupations and to calculate comparative data for the contamination of organic dusts with endotoxin. Nine different occupational settings were studied, drawn from the textile, agricultural and animal handling industries. Samples were collected by personal sampling techniques, using the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampling head, glass fibre filters and rechargeable sampling pumps. The dust exposures were calculated by gravimetric analysis and using the calculated volume of air sampled were expressed as mg/m3. Endotoxin exposures were measured using a simple water extraction from the collected dusts, followed by a quantitative turbidimetric assay. Results were expressed as ng/m3, using the calculated volume of air sampled. In addition, the levels of the contamination of dusts with endotoxin for individual industries were expressed as ng/mg of collected dust. Two hundred and fifty-nine samples, collected from 9 different industries and across 36 different sites were analysed. This represented a sampling rate of 25% for the total work force. The average sampling time was 4.62 h. For all the dusts collected, a significant correlation between the collected dust and endotoxin was seen (r = 0.7 and p < 0.001). The highest dust exposures occurred during cleaning activities (grain handling: 72.5 mg/m3). The individuals exposed to the highest median level of dust and endotoxin were the animal handlers (poultry handlers, dust: 11.53 mg/m3, endotoxin: 71,995 ng/m3). Weaving and mushroom cultivation had the lowest exposures for dust and endotoxins. The mostly highly contaminated dusts (median values expressed as ng of endotoxin per mg of collected dust) were found in the animal handling (poultry: 1,030 ng/mg, swine: 152 ng/mg) and cotton spinning (522 ng/mg) industries. Processing of cotton and wool fibres was found to reduce the levels of contamination of dusts with endotoxin. In the study, valid comparative data for personal exposures to organic dusts and endotoxins have been presented. The highest exposures were found amongst animal handlers and during cleaning activities. The results highlight that dust exposures are greater in a number of industries than the set exposure standards. In addition, endotoxin exposures are found to be greater than levels at which harmful effects have been demonstrated.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

Characterization of endotoxin and 3-hydroxy fatty acid levels in air and settled dust from commercial aircraft cabins.

Endotoxin was measured in air and dust samples collected during four commercial aircraft flights. Samples were analyzed for endotoxin biological activity using the Limulus assay. 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FA) of carbon chain lengths C10:0-C18:0 were determined in dust by gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. The geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) endotoxin air level was 1.5 EU/m3 (1.9, n = 28); however, significant differences were found by flight within aircraft type. Mean endotoxin levels were significantly higher in carpet dust than in seat dust (140 +/- 81 vs. 51 +/- 25 EU/mg dust, n = 32 each, P < 0.001). Airborne endotoxin levels were not significantly related to either carpet or seat dust endotoxin levels. Mean 3-OH FA levels were significantly higher in carpet dust than in seat dust for C10:2, C12:0, and C14:0 (P < 0.001 for each), while the mean level of C16:0 was significantly higher in seat dust than in carpet dust (P < 0.01). Carpet dust endotoxin was significantly, but moderately, correlated with 3-OH-C12:0 and 3-OH-C14:0 (Pearson r = 0.52 and 0.48, respectively), while correlation of seat dust endotoxin with individual 3-OH FAs depended on the test statistic used. Mean endotoxin potency was significantly higher for carpet dust than for seat dust (6.3 +/- 3.0 vs. 3.0 +/- 1.4 EU/pmol LPS, P < 0.0001). Mean endotoxin levels in the air and dust of commercial aircraft cabins were generally higher than mean levels reported in homes and office buildings. These results suggest that exposure route and dust source are important considerations when relating endotoxin exposure to specific health outcomes.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1992

Exposure to dust, endotoxins, and fungi in the animal feed industry.

In the Dutch animal feed industry, approximately 6000 workers are exposed to organic dust, originating mainly from raw materials such as grain, pulses (peas and beans), and waste products from the vegetable oil and starch industries. In this study, 79 stationary dust samples and 530 personal dust samples from eight animal feed production facilities were analyzed. The stationary total dust samples showed gravimetric concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 25 mg/m3 (geometric mean [GM] 1.3 mg/m3). Concentrations of smaller particle fractions (respirable, thoracic, and inspirable dust) were considerably lower. Personal inspirable dust concentrations were considerably higher than stationary concentrations and were strongly related to job titles. Pooled personal inspirable dust concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 450 mg/m3 (GM = 2.4 mg/m3). After adjusting for differences between inspirable and total dust, 25% of the measurements exceeded the Dutch maximum allowed concentration (MAC) for total nuisance dust (10 mg/m3) and 42% exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' threshold limit value for grain dust (4 mg/m3). Endotoxin concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 1870 ng/m3 inspirable dust (GM = 5.1 ng/m3). Endotoxin appeared to be less prevalent in respirable dust than in larger dust fractions. Concentrations in dust appeared to be related to stages in the production process. Colony-forming units (cfu) of fungi ranged from 130 to 15,300 cfu/m3 (GM = 2300 cfu/m3) and were in parallel measurements more strongly related to endotoxin concentrations than to dust concentrations. Clearly, workers in the Dutch animal feed industry are frequently exposed to dust levels above recommended Dutch and American levels. Exposure levels to endotoxin and to fungi are quantified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

Upper-airway inflammation in relation to dust spiked with aldehydes or glucan.

OBJECTIVES: Organic dust is associated with adverse effects on human airways. This study was done to investigate whether the addition of beta-(1,3)-D glucan or aldehydes to office dust causes enhanced inflammation in human airways. METHODS: Thirty-six volunteers were exposed randomly to clean air, office dust, dust spiked with glucan, and dust spiked with aldehydes. The three dust exposures contained between 332 and 379 microg dust/m(3). Spiking with 1 gram of dust was done with 10 milligrams of glucan or 0.1 microliters of aldehydes. Acoustic rhinometry, rhinostereometry, nasal lavage, and lung function tests were applied. RESULTS: After the exposures to dust spiked with the glucan and aldehydes, the nasal volume decreased (-1.33 and -1.39 cm(3) (mean), respectively) when compared with the -0.9 cm(3) after clean air or office dust (P=0.036 for a difference in decrease between exposures). After 2-3 hours the aldehyde-spiked dust caused a 0.6-mm swelling of the inferior turbinate, and glucan-spiked dust produced a 0.7-mm swelling (P=0.039 for a difference in the swelling between the four exposures). The preexposure nasal lavage cleaned off the mucosa, and lower cytokine concentrations were found after all of the exposures. For interleukin-8, this decrease in concentration was smaller after the dust exposures spiked with glucan and aldehydes (-2.9 and -25.8 pg/ml, respectively) than after office dust or clean air (-65.9 and -74.1 pg/ml, respectively) (P=0.042). The nasal eosinophil cell concentration increased after exposure to dust spiked with glucan (P=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: beta-(1,3)-D glucan and aldehydes in office dust enhance the inflammatory effects of dust on the upper airways.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Carcinogenic effects of wood dust: review and discussion.

Occupational exposure to wood dust (alone or chemically treated) is associated with an increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity. The specific causative agents, i.e., wood dust alone (natural products), wood dust with additives used in the processing or manufacturing of wood products, and/or physical determinants of wood dust and the associated risk factors, are not known or understood. The strongest association of exposure to wood dust and development of nasal cancer is observed in those occupations where workers are exposed to hard wood dust and chemical additives are not used. The time between first occupational exposure to wood dust and the development of adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity averages 40 years (range 7-70 years). The epidemiological data available are not sufficient to make a definitive assessment between wood dust exposure and increased risk for cancer other than nasal cancer. The toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity of wood dust to laboratory animals or in vitro with animal or microbial cells have not been thoroughly studied. Thus there is no direct experimental evidence on the potential hazards of wood dust. Data are insufficient or lacking on 1) wood dust exposure levels in ambient air and worker's breathing zone, and the deposition in the nasal cavity; 2) hard vs. soft wood dusts; 3) particle size and shape; 4) chemical composition of wood dust and the extent of contamination with chemical additives; and 5) interaction between inhaled wood dust, chronic irritation, and tobacco smoking. These data are required so that one can understand the association between wood dust exposure and nasal cavity tumors, along with demographic differences in cancer rates, and to develop strategies for intervention and reduction of disease causing agents in order to reduce risk to wood industry workers.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study on size distribution of total aerosol and water-soluble ions during an Asian dust storm event at Jeju Island, Korea.

Soil dust particles transported from loess regions of the Asian continent, called Asian dust, highly influences the air quality of north-eastern Asia and the northern Pacific Ocean. In order to investigate the effects of these dust storms on the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol particles with different size, measurements of size distributions of total aerosol and major ion species were carried out on Jeju Island, Korea during April 2001. Juju Island was chosen for the study because the levels of emissions of anthropogenic air pollutants are very low. A 5-stage cascade impactor was used to sample size-fractionated aerosol particles. Samples were analyzed for major water-soluble ions using Dionex DX-120 ion chromatograph. The average mass concentration of total aerosol was found to be 24.4 and 108.3 microg m(-3) for non-Asian dust and Asian dust periods, respectively. The total aerosol size distribution, measured during the non-Asian dust period, was bimodal, whereas the coarse particles dominated the size distribution of total aerosol during the Asian dust period. It was found that SO4(2-), NH4+ and K+ were mainly distributed in fine particles, while Cl-, NO3-, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were in coarse particles. Although SO4(2-) was mainly distributed in fine particles, during the Asian dust period, the concentrations in coarse particles were significantly increased. This indicates heterogeneous oxidation of SO2 on wet surfaces of basic soil dust particles. The NH4+ was found to exist as (NH4)2SO4 in fine particles, with a molar ratio of NH4+ to SO4(2-) of 2.37 and 1.52 for non-Asian dust and Asian dust periods, respectively. Taking into account the proximity of the sampling site to the sea, and the observed chloride depletion, coarse mode nitrate, during the non-Asian dust period, is assumed to originate from the reaction of nitric acid with sodium chloride on the surfaces of sea-salt particles although the chloride depletion was not shown to be large enough to prove this assumption. During the Asian dust period, however, chloride depletion was much smaller, indicating coarse nitrate particles were mainly produced by the reaction of nitric acid with surfaces of basic soil particles. Most chloride and sodium components were shown to originate from sea-salt particles. Asian dust aerosols, arriving at Jeju Island, contained considerable amounts of sea-salt particles as they passed over the Yellow Sea. Ca2+ was shown to be the most abundant species in Asian dust particles.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2000

Quantification of group 5 grass pollen allergens in house dust.

BACKGROUND: It is widely known and accepted that grass pollen is a major outdoor cause of hay fever. However, it is of virtual importance for grass pollen allergic patients with symptoms all the year round to know the concentration of grass pollen allergens in their homes. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to quantify the amount of grass pollen allergen in mass units (microg Phl p 5) in dust settled indoors and to detect the distribution of allergenic activity in different sampling locations of homes. Furthermore, we studied the seasonal fluctuation of allergen content in dust samples. METHODS: We adapted the two site binding assay for detection of group 5 grass pollen allergens in samples from randomly selected homes in Hamburg (n = 371), Erfurt (n = 396), Hettstedt (n = 353), Zerbst (n = 289) and Bitterfeld (n = 226), Germany. Dust samples were collected from floor of living room (LR), bedroom (BR) or children's room (CR) and mattress (MA) during period of June 1995 to August 1998. The amount of the major grass group 5 allergens was detected in microg/g dust. RESULTS: Phl p 5 was detected in 67% of the samples analysed (n = 4760). The range was between undetectable (< 0.03 microg/g dust) and 81 microg/g dust. Phl p 5 levels were significantly higher in the dust from LR (geometric mean 0.117 microg/g dust) or BR/CR floors (geometric mean 0.098 microg/g dust) than in mattresses (geometric mean 0.043 microg/g dust). We observed seasonal fluctuation of indoor Phl p 5 levels with peak in June but also annual differences. Thus Phl p 5 content indoors reflects also the different quantities of pollen counts of annual courses. During pollination period we found two times higher Phl p 5 levels (0.172 microg/g dust, P < 0.001) than outside of grass pollination season (0.095 microg/g dust). The indoor Phl p 5 levels outside of season seem to be independent of pollination before. We suppose that settled pollen grains or allergenic material from outdoor particles carried indoors via footwear and clothes accumulates in house dust. CONCLUSION: Although we not known how the allergens in settled dust are equilibrated with those in the air, the considerable high level of Phl p 5 in indoor dust even during periods when no grass pollen is present in the atmosphere may be an important cause of pollen-allergy symptoms outside of season.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed1999

Swine dust induces cytokine secretion from human epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages.

Exposure to swine dust causes airway inflammation with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and inflammatory cells in nasal and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in healthy subjects. Earlier studies have suggested that lipopolysaccharides (LPS) might be an important proinflammatory factor in swine dust. Since respiratory epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages are target cells for the inhaled dust, we therefore compared the release of proinflammatory cytokines from normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE), an epithelial cell line (A549) and from human alveolar macrophages obtained from BALF from healthy subjects in vitro after incubation with dust collected in swine houses or LPS. Swine dust or LPS was added to the wells with A549 cells or macrophages and incubated for 8 h at concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 microg/ml. NHBE cells were incubated with swine dust at a concentration of 25, 50 or 100 microg/ml or with LPS at a concentration of 50 or 100 microg/ml and incubated for 24 h. The supernatants were collected, centrifuged, and IL-6, IL-1beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production was measured using an ELISA method and expressed per 106 cells. Swine dust and LPS caused a dose-dependent increase of IL-6 production in NHBE cells, swine dust being more potent than LPS. In A549 cells, only swine dust, but not LPS caused an increase of IL-6 production. Neither swine dust nor LPS induced IL-1beta or TNF-alpha release from A549 cells. Both swine dust and LPS caused a dose-dependent increase of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in alveolar macrophages. Swine dust which contained 2.2 (0.2) ng endotoxin/100 microg swine dust (0.02 per thousand) was almost as potent as LPS in inducing cytokine release from alveolar macrophages in vitro. We conclude that both epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages have the capability to contribute to the release of proinflammatory cytokines following exposure to swine dust. Some agent(s) other than LPS in the dust contribute to the marked airway inflammatory reaction.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of a direct-reading device to gravimetric methods for evaluating organic dust aerosols in an enclosed swine production environment.

The production of livestock in enclosed facilities has become an accepted practice, driven by the need for increased efficiency. Exposure to organic dusts, containing various bioactive components, has been identified an important risk factor for the high rate of lung disease found among workers in these environments. Assessment of organic dust exposure requires technical skills and instrumentation not readily available to most agricultural enterprises. Development of a simple, cost-effective method for measuring organic dust levels would be useful in evaluating and controlling exposures in these environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the direct reading MIE PDM-3 Miniram for estimating organic dust concentrations in enclosed swine production facilities. Responses from the MIE PDM-3 Miniram were compared to gravimetric methods for total and inhalable dust. Total dust determinations were conducted in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 0500. Inhalable particulate mass (IPM) sampling was conducted using SKC brand IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine) sampling cassettes, which meet the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ACGIH criteria for inhalable dust sampling. This study design also allowed for the comparison of traditional total dust method to the IPM method, in collecting organic dusts in an agricultural setting. Fifteen sets of side-by-side samples (Miniram, total dust, and IPM) were collected over a period of six months in a swine confinement building. There were statistically significant differences in the results provided by the three sampling methods. Measurements for inhalable dust exceeded those for total dust in eleven of fifteen samples. The Miniram time-weighted average (TWA) response to the organic dust was always the lower of the three methods. A high degree of correlation was found among all three methods. The Miniram performed well under field conditions of varying temperature and humidity. The Miniram has the potential to predict the inhalable and total dust concentrations, assuming a correction factor for the organic dust being measured is applied.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

"Total" and respirable dust exposures in the U.S. carbon black manufacturing industry.

This article describes an industrywide exposure assessment study of "total" and respirable carbon black dust exposures among U.S. carbon black manufacturing workers conducted between 1993 and 1995. In addition to updating a 1979-1980 industrywide "total" dust study conducted among all major U.S. carbon black producers, this research was the first comprehensive evaluation of respirable dust exposures in the U.S. industry. A total of 2060 samples were collected (n = 1,004 "total," n = 1,056 respirable). The distributions of both dust fractions were lognormal with an overall "total" dust mean concentration, represented as the maximum variance unbiased estimator of 0.59 mg/m3 (range = 0.01-13.25 mg/m3), and an overall respirable dust mean concentration of 0.15 mg/m3 (range = 0.01-2.62 mg/m3). The fraction of "total" dust exposures greater than the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure limit of 3.5 mg/m3 was less than 3%. Material handling jobs experienced the highest "total" and respirable dust exposures, a finding consistent with the 1979-1980 study. The highest mean exposure for an individual job title was observed for product baggers/packers/sackers at 2.30 mg/m3 for "total" dust and 0.48 mg/m3 as respirable dust. Overall, mean "total" dust exposures had decreased significantly (up to 70%) for the majority of job classifications since the 1979-80 study. To evaluate the relationship between "total" and respirable dust fractions, 680 matched pairs of respirable and "total" samples were analyzed with a resulting mean ratio of 0.37 (respirable fraction to "total" dust). A log-transformed regression equation was obtained that provides a predictive relationship between "total" and respirable carbon black dust concentrations that may be applied to estimate the respirable fraction of historical "total" dust data collected under similar environmental and manufacturing conditions.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1980

Epidemiological study of respiratory disease in workers exposed to polyvinylchloride dust.

The respiratory health of workers exposed to polyvinylchloride (PVC) dust has been investigated in 818 men sampled from the work force of a factory manufacturing PVC. In a cross-sectional survey, the lung function and prevalences of respiratory symptoms and chest radiographic abnormalities were compared with estimates of individual PVC dust exposures based on detailed occupational histories and current measurements of respirable PVC dust. Complaints of slight exertional dyspnoea were associated with PVC dust exposure, though age and smoking effects were much stronger. The forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were inversely related to dust exposure after age, height, and smoking effects had been taken into account. This effect was seen principally in cigarette smokers, and there was suggestive evidence that PVC dust exposure and cigarette smoking interacted in the reduction of FEV1 and FVC. Gas transfer factor was not related to dust exposure. The chest radiographs were read according to the ILO U/C classification by three experienced readers. One reader recorded a low prevalence of small rounded opacities, and these were not related to age or dust exposure. Another reader recorded a higher prevalence of small rounded opacities category 0/1 or more, and these were related to age but not to dust exposure. The third reader recorded the highest prevalence of small rounded opacities (though none greater than category 1/1), and these were independently related both to age and to PVC dust exposure, indicating an effect of PVC dust on the appearance of the chest radiography. These appearances were so slight that only the higher sensitivity of this reader in the interpretation of profusion of small rounded opacities on the ILO U/C scale enabled detection of this effect of PVC dust. In conclusion, exposure to PVC dust is associated with some deterioration of lung function, slight abnormalities of the chest radiograph, and complaints of slight dyspnoea. The mean decline in FEV1 associated with the average dust exposure experienced in the study was small, though some of the men with higher dust exposures may have suffered clinically important loss of lung function as a result of their occupation.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Dust levels and control methods in poultry houses.

This article summarizes information from the papers and posters presented at the international symposium on "Dust Control in Animal Production Facilities", held in Aarhus (Denmark) on 30 May-2 June 1999. Dust concentrations in poultry houses vary from 0.02 to 81.33 mg/m3 for inhalable dust and from 0.01 to 6.5 mg/m3 for respirable dust. Houses with caged laying hens showed the lowest dust concentrations, i.e., less than 2 mg/m3, while the dust concentrations in the other housing systems, e.g., perchery and aviary systems, were often four to five times higher. Other factors affecting the dust concentrations are animal category, animal activity, bedding materials and season. The most important sources of dust seem to be the animals and their excrements. Further studies on the effects of housing systems on dust sources and their compounds are desired for development of a healthier working environment in poultry production facilities. Adjustment of the relative humidity (RH) of the air in a broiler house to 75% will have an effect on inhalable dust, but not on respirable dust. A slight immediate effect on the respirable dust was observed after fogging with pure water or water with rapeseed oil. In an aviary system, a 50 to 65% reduction of the inhalable dust concentration was found after spraying water with 10% of oil and pure water, respectively. To obtain a higher dust reducing efficiency, improvement of techniques for application of droplets onto dust sources will be desired.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1993

Dust inhalation system for small laboratory animals.

In order to stabilize the dust concentration for animal inhalation studies, two feedback systems were introduced. Dusts generated were passed through two cyclone separators and stored first in a storage chamber. Then they were aspirated into an ejector by compressed carrier air, mixed with filtered room air in a mixing box, and introduced into an exposure chamber. The first feedback system was for dust generation. Dusts were reaerosolized by on-off control using the output signals from a light-scattering dust detector connected to a storage chamber. The second system was for the control of compressed carrier air flow into an ejector. Compressed air flow was automatically regulated by a PID-controller in combination with a mass flow controller. The PID-controller processed continuous signals from another dust detector connected to an exposure chamber and fed control signals to a mass flow controller for regulation of the compressed air flow. This automatic control system could not only reduce hunchings of dust concentration following on-off control of a dust generator but also reduce overshooting of dust concentration in the exposure chamber following the detachment and dispersion of dusts adhering to the inner walls of the dust-supplying route. The system could also maintain a desired dust concentration in the exposure chamber for up to 180 days (20 hr/day, 7 days/week). In addition, this system could simultaneously introduce different doses of dust to other exposure chambers stably while maintaining similar size distribution of the dusts if additional identical exposure units were used. These results indicate that this dust inhalation system is suitable both for long-term studies and for investigating a dose-response relationship.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Inflammatory potential of dust from waste handling facilities measured as IL-8 secretion from lung epithelial cells in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: Organic dust contains several different components which may cause pulmonary effects, and many health problems have been associated with the collection and recycling of organic waste. It is often difficult to obtain a precise measurement of the exposure to each component in dust, and organic dust samples obtained from different workplaces may vary profoundly in composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory potential of dust from different waste handling plants. Furthermore, we set out to investigate the role of endotoxin in the inflammatory potential of dust. METHODS: Dust samples were obtained from four incineration plants, three samples from a plant sorting household waste, five paper-sorting plants, two mail centres, four bottle-sorting plants, and two combined paper-sorting and composting plants. The samples were tested in a bioassay with the lung epithelial cell line A549. Cells were stimulated for 24h with dust samples at six concentrations, and subsequently the interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion into the growth medium was measured. The initial slope of the dose response curves was used to calculate the potency factor (PF) of the dust samples, and correction against positive control samples was used to reduce day-to-day variation. The concentration of endotoxin in the dust samples was measured by the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. RESULTS: The inflammatory potential of the dust samples for dust from the paper- and mail-sorting plants showed a significantly lower PF as compared with dust from the plants handling mixed household waste. A significantly lower PF for the dust samples from the bottle-sorting plants (excluding one outlier plant) compared with dust from the plants handling mixed household waste was also found. No correlation was observed between the PF and the concentration of endotoxin in the samples. CONCLUSION: The PFs obtained seem to reflect the material handled, with mixed household waste generating organic dust with the highest inflammatory potentials.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of agricultural dust in working environment.

The presented quantitative and qualitative analysis of dust in agricultural working environment is a continuation of the process of recognizing the exposure to dust among private farmers. The study covers the following: determination of respirable fraction of dust in the respiratory zone (on the background of total dust) while performing individual farming activities which constitute an annual work cycle, organic and mineral components of settled dust for basic groups of farming activities, and the main mineral pathogenic component - free silica in airborne and settled dust. The study was conducted on 5 farms specialising in: cultivation of cereals, root plants, vegetables, dairy cattle and swine breeding and mixed production. The analysis of settled dust covered 17 types of dust accompanying field work and farm/indoor activities. Studies of airborne dust were conducted on farmers while performing 40 main work activities which contributed to the annual work cycle. Results of the study confirmed the following: agricultural work activities are accompanied by a high level of dustiness and showed the presence of a respirable fraction in airborne dust of up to 25%, a higher level of pathogenic free silica SiO(2) in settled dust samples in the working environment of a farmer, compared to dust in respiratory zone, a comparable level of SiO(2) in total and respirable airborne dust, and a high level of organic component in settled dust at work activities with plant material. These results indicated that the evaluation of farmers' exposure to dust should be based on the examination of samples taken in the respiratory zone while performing individual work activities

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[A prospective cohort study on the comparison of risk of occupational dust exposure and smoking to death].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of dust exposure and smoking on mortality. METHODS: Based on the Guangzhou Occupational Health Surveillance Record System established in 1989-1992, 80 987 factory workers, aged > or = 30, occupationally exposed to dust and non-exposure to dust, were included in a prospective cohort study. RESULTS: (1) The mean age of the cohort was 43.5. Most subjects were workers, with secondary education, and married. Out of them 16.3% having ever exposed to dust, 43.7% ever smoked and 33.5% drank alcohol. (2) The cohort were traced for 8 years on average, but 35 were lost for follow-up. Malignant neoplasm was most commonly seen among 1539 deaths. (3) The adjusted relative risk (RRs) of death of all causes, malignant neoplasm and cerebro-cardiovascular diseases for dust exposed workers were close to those for smokers. However, the adjusted RRs of death of nasopharynx cancer and respiratory system diseases for dust exposed workers were higher than those for smokers. The adjusted RRs of death of lung cancer and stomach cancer for smokers were 2.2 times and 1.5 times of that for dust exposed workers respectively. Dust exposure combined with smoking caused significantly higher death RR. (4) In males, the adjusted RRs of death of all causes, malignant neoplasm and respiratory system diseases for silica dust exposed workers and the adjusted RR of death of cerebro-cardiovascular diseases for wood dust exposed workers were higher those in smokers. (5) The population attributable risk percentage (PARP) of all causes of death for smokers was 2.5 times of that for dust exposed workers. (6) In males, the risks of death for all causes, malignant neoplasm, lung cancer and stomach cancer increased with the amount of smoking per day and the duration of smoking. The risks of death caused by coronary heart disease and respiratory system diseases were increasing with the amount of smoking per day and the duration of smoking respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The adjusted RRs for dust exposed workers were close to those for smokers with dust exposure and smoking having synergistic effects. Some of the adjusted RRs for smokers were higher than those for dust exposed workers PARP for smokers was higher than that for dust exposed workers. Our findings suggested that there was a significant dose-effect between smoking and risk of deaths.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

House-dust mites and summer cottages.

BACKGROUND: Estimated indoor climate conditions in unheated summer cottages offers house-dust mites unfavorable temperature and feeding conditions while giving them optimum humidity conditions. We aimed to estimate the exposure level of house-dust mites in summer cottages. METHODS: A total of 37 summer cottages were sampled for house dust and storage mites in three locations and the results compared with samples from 33 patients suspected of house-dust mite allergy and living in ordinary houses. The processed dust samples were investigated by microscopy and exposure levels given as number of mites per 0.1 g dust. RESULTS: The summer cottages were without exception all heavily infested with threefold or higher concentrations of both house dust and storage mites in comparison with ordinary houses. In unheated summer cottages were found tropical high concentrations of house dust and storage mites with a median concentration of house-dust mites in mattress dust of 2000 house-dust mites/g of dust which corresponds to an average of 40 microg allergen/g of mattress dust. CONCLUSIONS: As a probable consequence of high indoor air humidity conditions in unheated summer cottages in winter, dust samples contained threefold or higher concentrations of house dust and storage mites. Indoor humidity conditions thus more than compensated for lack of continuous supply of skin scales from human beings and an unfavorable low indoor air temperature. The uniform high mite exposure in summer cottages is likely to imply disease deterioration in patients already allergic to mites.

Acaridae↗
PubMed1995

Exposure of children to pollutants in house dust and indoor air.

This review summarizes occurrence and exposure studies for pollutants in house dust and related indoor air exposures. A standard sampling method and control methods to reduce these exposures are discussed, including recommendations for future research. Infants and toddlers receive a broad and significant range of exposures to lead, pesticides, PAHs, allergens, and VOCs in house dust and indoor air. Carpet dust in eight Columbus and nine Seattle homes contained concentrations of potentially carcinogenic PAHs ranging from 3 to 290 micrograms/g, of lead from 250 to 2250 micrograms/g, and of PCBs from 210 to 1900 ng/g. Dust collected from ten used sofas in Seattle averaged 16.3, 37.2, and 229 micrograms/g for dust mite allergen, cat allergen, and lead, respectively; dust samples showed mutagenic activity. Biological and chemical pollutants in indoor dust and air have been associated with lead poisoning, cancer, allergy, asthma, damage to the nervous system, and sick building symptoms. The 11% of toddlers who have pica tend to have the highest exposures and risks. Further, the exposure of toddlers to lead via the dust pathway can be greater than by other routes. Standard method ASTM 5438.94 for sampling house dust has been used to characterize current and chronic exposure of toddlers in epidemiological studies. The accumulation of dust, dust mites, and tracked-in soil in old carpets, sofas, and mattresses appears to be a major source of exposure to lead, pesticides, allergens, PAHs, and VOCs. Remodeling and energy conservation can reduce ventilation and increase relative humidity, dust, dust mites, molds, VOCs, and other indoor air pollutants. The U.S. faces large and increasing costs from asthma and allergy. Asthma incidence in the U.S. has increased from 0.5% in 1930 to 8%-12% in 1991. Asthma hospitalization rates for children are increasing at the rate of 4%/yr in the U.S. and 14%/yr in Seattle. Such hospital visits would be rare with effective diagnosis, patient education, and control of home exposures. Asthma was estimated to cost $6.2 billion in 1990; hospital visits of children in Seattle cost $2,526,000 in 1993. Forty percent of the U.S. population has been sensitized to allergens; one in three homes has high relative humidity, which favors dust mites, molds, allergies, asthma, and other respiratory diseases. Reducing indoor allergens can reduce costs, severity, and the risk of being sensitized and developing allergic disease. Use of volunteer Master Home Environmentalists to do free in-home surveys and education in Seattle may reduce immediate health costs from allergens as well as long-term risks from lead, carcinogens, and home chemicals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Air Pollutants↗