A Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of Two Workstation Interventions on Upper Body Pain and Incident Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Computer Operators

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Park JH ; Rao, Carol Y.
• Description:
  We investigated the associations of fungal and endotoxin levels in office dust with respiratory health in 888 (67% participation) occupants of a water-damaged building. We analyzed floor and chair dusts from 338 workstations for culturable fungi and endotoxin. Based on averages, we ranked each floor of the building as low, medium, or high for occupants' exposure to each of these agents. Multivariate logistic regression models for building-related symptoms included this ranking of fungi and endotoxin, age, gender, race, smoking status, and duration of occupancy. Using floor dust measures, we found significantly increased odds for lower respiratory symptoms [wheeze, chest tightness, attacks of shortness of breath, and attacks of cough: odds ratios (OR) = 1.7 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-2.77) to 2.4 (95% CI: 1.29-4.59)], throat irritation [OR = 1.7, (95% CI: 1.06-2.82)], and rash/itchy skin [OR = 3.0, (95% CI: 1.47-6.19)] in the highest fungal exposure group compared to the lowest, with generally linear exposure-response relationships. Nonlinear relationships were observed for many of these symptoms and endotoxin in floor dust. Interaction models showed that endotoxin modified effects of fungi on respiratory symptoms. Our findings of exposure interactions and exposure-response relationships of fungal and endotoxin with increased risk of building-related symptoms contribute to an understanding of the role of microbial agents in building-related asthma and respiratory and systemic symptoms. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Air Pollution, Indoor Dust Endotoxins Environmental Health Environmental Monitoring Fungi Irritants Microbiology Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Smokers

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Bioaerosol Dose-response Dust-exposure Dust-inhalation Endotoxin Exposure-assessment Exposure-Response Relations Floors Fungal-infections Indoor-air-pollution Indoor-environmental-quality Microorganisms Molds Office-workers Office Building Respirable-dust Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders Respiratory Symptoms Smoking Statistical-analysis Water Damage

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• ISSN:
  0905-6947
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  192-203
• Volume:
  16
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20030119
• Citation:
  Indoor Air 2006 Jun; 16(3):192-203
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Ju-Hyeong Park, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Mail Stop 2800, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  gzp8@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Indoor Air
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:154e26f2320f3dd8a2e72cab0e9be6319a00c7f64b869535cf2e3ba87e14f1820bebe0855270ba9e0044e3a353b869226be6fea48dfb5cc7d90b74d5ed4de270
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/190940/cdc_190940_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 359.39 KB ]