Prospective Study of Biofilms, Mycobacteria and Pseudomonads in Metalworking Fluids

Details

• Personal Author:
  Franzblau, Alfred ; Xi C
• Description:
  A number of human health effects have been associated with exposure to metal working fluids (MWFs), including various respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and cancers. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in relation to metalworking fluids has been reported and there is strong evidence that the causative agent (or agents) is microbial contamination of the fluids. Multiple lines of research suggest that a newly identified organism, Mycobacterium immunogenum, appears to have an etiologic role. The goal of this study is to understand the microbial ecology of MWFs, with special focus on biofilms and Mycobacteria including M. immunogenum, using molecular techniques in addition to traditional culture-based approaches. Beginning in October, 2009, we started a one year monthly sampling campaign of seven MWF systems in two automobile plants. Both bulk fluid samples and associated biofilm samples from the same system were collected and a one-time aerosol sample was collected both inside and outside of one plant. Operational parameters were also recorded during the sampling campaign. Both traditional culture-based methods and quantitative real-time PCR methods were used to quantify total bacteria and Mycobacterium immunogenum from all collected samples. In addition, DNA pyro-sequencing was used to characterize microbial populations in metalworking fluids in selected samples from three systems in two plants. We found that all the samples had bacterial growth and M. immunogenum was also detected in most samples. The data showed that the relative abundance of M. immunogenum was significantly higher in biofilms than in bulk fluid samples. The DNA pyro-sequencing analysis revealed complex and different bacterial communities in metalworking fluids in different systems. Statistical analysis showed that common operational parameters except pH and oil content, including temperature, trap oil, type of coolants may not be able to explain the variability of relative abundance of M. immunogenun in these samples. The research team has shared their findings with stakeholders including UAW, two automobile plants via five data meetings and also disseminated data to the public via conference presentations. Our findings would be very useful information for metalworking fluid suppliers to improve their design of metalworking fluids and for plants to improve their routine management practice to save cost and improve occupational health. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Lung Diseases Microbiology Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Automotive Industry Bacteria Bacterial Cultures Etiology Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Lung Disease Metalworking Fluids MWFs Occupational Exposure
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-17
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058808
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2022-100291
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R21-OH-009306, 2013 Jan; :1-17
• Contact Point Address:
  Chuanwu Xi, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
• Email:
  cxi@umich.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090801
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20120731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a9dd7170577eb25ec9e7ada0a0cea0b0ed7be0b30bccf0127ce81f06e83f12c68c7a7056ee36362e3b88fb351cfe30499dca05e46ae3d19240a4ab239e5e8a2c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218956/cdc_218956_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.26 MB ]