Cotton dust and gram-negative bacterial endotoxin correlations in two cotton textile mills

Details

• Personal Author:
  Christiani, David C. ; Eisen EA ; Lu P-L ; Olenchock, Stephen A. ; Wegman, David H. ; Ye T-T
• Description:
  A study of the correlation between cotton dust and gram negative bacterial endotoxin concentrations in yarn preparation areas in cotton mills was conducted. Vertical elutriator samples were collected in the opening, cleaning, carding, drawing, roving, and spinning areas of two cotton mills in Shanghai, China. Samples were also collected in a silk mill for comparison. The samples were analyzed for cotton dust by a gravimetric assay and for endotoxin by the Limulus amebocyte assay. Time weighted average (TWA) cotton dust concentrations ranged from 0.14 to 3.75mg/m3 in mill 1 and from 0.04 to 2.93mg/m3 in mill 2. The highest median dust concentration in mill 1, 1.69mg/m3, occurred in the opening area. The highest median dust concentration in mill 2, 1.73mg/m3, occurred in the cleaning area. TWA endotoxin concentrations ranged from 15.3 to 1,462 nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m3) in mill 1 and from 1 to 1,697ng/m3 in mill 2. The highest median endotoxin concentration in mill-1, 478ng/m3, occurred in the carding area. The highest median endotoxin concentration in mill 2, 750ng/m3, occurred in the drawing area. Median dust and endotoxin concentrations in the silk mill were 0.12mg/m3 and less than 0.1ng/m3. Cotton dust and endotoxin concentrations were significantly correlated overall at both mills. When analyzed according to work area, the correlations were still strong except in the carding area of mill 1. Linear regression models predicted that for a cotton dust concentration equal to the current standard, 0.2mg/m3, the endotoxin concentrations in mill 1 and mill 2 would be 56 and 68ng/m3, respectively. The authors conclude that correlations between dust and endotoxin concentrations in a typical cotton mill may be stronger than those observed in experimental card room studies. Cotton dust concentrations may be a suitable index of endotoxin exposure of workers employed in the cotton textile industry throughout the world. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Endotoxins Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Textile Industry
• Keywords:
  Cotton-dust Industrial-hygiene NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Grant NIOSH-Publication Occupational-exposure Pulmonary-system-disorders Textile-mills
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  333-342
• Volume:
  23
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00213032
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 1993 Feb; 23(2):333-342
• Contact Point Address:
  Environmental Sci & Physiology Harvard School of Public Hlth 665 Huntington Ave Boston, MA 02115
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1993
• NORA Priority Area:
  Pulmonary System Disorders
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19870701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20220831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:97bd2f1f5fbe6851149f08fc76196bfdf65164c3a3db98dc680ea3032223cfb40b364931e1bf4f28e802470697477d3fc04a181188c2863bd0c3fa7888a61298
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204416/cdc_204416_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 621.18 KB ]