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
  More +
• 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
  • Agriculture
  • Organic dusts
  • Chronic exposure
  • Dust inhalation
  • Endotoxins
  • Dust particles
  • Epidemiology
  • Exposure assessment
  • Inhalation studies
  More +
• 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
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187730/cdc_187730_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 351.80 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:61402bb959542772067e54ea71ce90185b99a0f2dddde2cffff86766b67a0a13c0470c0e4584b6a22a787ae09eef7207b775079282e7b81ac6576447c6dd2d2f