Grain dust-induced airflow obstruction and inflammation of the lower respiratory tract

Details

• Personal Author:
  Becker S ; Clapp WD ; Frees KL ; Koren HS ; Lux CR ; Quay J ; Schwartz DA ; Thorne PS ; Watt JL ; Zhang X ; Becker S ; Clapp WD ; Frees KL ; Koren HS ; Lux CR ; Quay J ; Schwartz DA ; Thorne PS ; Watt JL ; Zhang X
• Description:
  This study examined whether inhalation of grain dust could cause an inflammatory response in the lower respiratory tract of grain handlers and whether the production of several important cytokines was involved in this response. The study population was selected from 200 grain handlers in eastern Iowa. The study subjects had a mean age of 34.7 years and had been employed a mean of 10.1 years in the grain handling industry. Of the 15 subjects, eight worked exclusively with corn and seven worked at sites that processed mixed grains. None of the subjects had ever smoked. Corn dust inhalation caused a profound inflammatory response in the lower respiratory tract characterized by a neutrophilic alveolitis with enhanced cytokine production and release. Clinically relevant declines in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were observed. Significantly higher cell concentrations, comprised primarily of neutrophils, were noted in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. All cytokines measured in BAL were elevated significantly above levels seen after saline challenge. The concentrations of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic-acid, prostaglandin-E2, leukotriene-B4, and histamine in BAL, however, did not differ following challenge with corn dust compared to buffered saline. The concentrations of mRNA for interleukin-1-beta (IL1- beta), IL-1RA, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha were significantly greater in BAL cells following inhalation of corn dust. The authors note a relationship between the physiologic response and the inflammatory response and conclude that the results suggest that the airway response to grain dust represents an acute inflammatory response to an inhaled toxin. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Lung Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Airway-obstruction Airway-resistance Dust-exposure Dust-inhalation Grain-dusts Lung-irritants NIOSH-Cooperative-Agreement NIOSH-Grant Pulmonary-function-tests Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders

  More +
• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Volume:
  150
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00223133
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1994 Sep; 150(3):611-617
• Contact Point Address:
  Internal Medicine University of Iowa Pulmonary Disease Division Iowa City, IA 52242
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1994
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19900701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• End Date:
  19930630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3d62399a404ba20228426d7da37a71c7d870b34377f46c2458b29cb7455d6a5f0f89f68fb58842b43493395983f2913b68bd877c0ff3389ea301b19b8c4a19be
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204818/cdc_204818_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 891.60 KB ]