Endotoxin Exposure and Inflammation Markers Among Agricultural Workers in Colorado and Nebraska

Details

• Personal Author:
  Andersen C ; Baker L ; Bradford M ; Burch JB ; Christensen O ; Cranmer B ; Keefe T ; Koehncke N ; Linda P ; Martinez AS ; Mehaffy J ; Reynolds SJ ; Saito, Rena ; Siegel, Paul D. ; Svendsen E ; Tessari J ; von Essen S ; Wagner SE
• Description:
  The adverse respiratory effects of agricultural dust inhalation are mediated in part by endotoxin, a constituent of gram-negative bacterial cell walls. This study quantified personal work-shift exposures to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and its reactive 3-hydroxy fatty acid (3-OHFA) constituents among workers in grain elevators, cattle feedlots, dairies, and on corn farms. Exposures were compared with post-work-shift nasal lavage fluid inflammation markers and respiratory symptoms. Breathing-zone personal air monitoring was performed over one work shift to quantify inhalable dust (Institute of Medicine samplers), endotoxin (recombinant factor C [rFC] assay), and 3-OHFA (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry). Post-shift nasal lavage fluids were assayed for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin 8 (IL-8), albumin, and eosinophilic cation protein (ECP) concentrations. The geometric mean (GSD) of endotoxin exposure (rFC assay) among the 125 male participants was 888 +/- (6.5) EU/m3, and 93% exceeded the proposed exposure limit (50 EU/m3). Mean PMN, MPO, albumin, and ECP levels were two- to threefold higher among workers in the upper quartile of 3-OHFA exposure compared to the lowest exposure quartile. Even numbered 3-OHFA were most strongly associated with nasal inflammation. Symptom prevalence was not elevated among exposed workers, possibly due to endotoxin tolerance or a healthy worker effect in this population. This is the first study to evaluate the relationship between endotoxin's 3-OHFA constituents in agricultural dust and nasal airway inflammation. More research is needed to characterize the extent to which these agents contribute to respiratory disease among agricultural workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Dust Endotoxins Epidemiology Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Industry Chronic Exposure Dust Inhalation Dust Particles Exposure Assessment Inhalation Studies Organic Dusts Particulate Dust Particulates
• ISSN:
  1528-7394
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Nebraska ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 7 ; OSHA Region 8 ; South Carolina ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  5-22
• Volume:
  73
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20036234
• Citation:
  J Toxicol Environ Health A 2010 Jan; 73(1):5-22
• Contact Point Address:
  James B. Burch, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Room 228, Columbia, SC 29208
• Email:
  burch@mailbox.sc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Colorado State University - Ft. Collins
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20020801
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues
• End Date:
  20070731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:61402bb959542772067e54ea71ce90185b99a0f2dddde2cffff86766b67a0a13c0470c0e4584b6a22a787ae09eef7207b775079282e7b81ac6576447c6dd2d2f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187730/cdc_187730_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 351.80 KB ]