Rope, Buoy Cleaning; Endotoxin Dust

Details

• Personal Author:
  Backus A
• Description:
  This is the third and final installment in a series of articles based on a 2003 study of indoor air hazards in lobstermen's workshops conducted by Richard Donahue, MD. Medical director of Islands Community Medical Services, and researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). By this time of year, most lobstermen have completed their rope cleaning activities and have a set their traps for the season, but here's something to think about for next winter. According to our 2003 study, rope cleaning activities, as well as the process of sanding buoys in preparation for a new coat of paint, can release endotoxin. Endotoxin is a complex fat/sugar (lipopolysaccharide) molecule found in the cell wall of Gram negative bacteria that has been shown to be the major contributor to respiratory problems suffered by textile workers. Strands of seaweed (algae) and bacteria accumulate of ropes and buoys while they are in the water. When the gear s removed and dried, both the algae and the bacteria die and decompose. We don't know if the bacteria help in the decomposition of the algae, but we do know that certain kinds of bacteria are present on the ropes and buoys. We found substantial quantities of endotoxin present in the dust produced during rope cleaning and buoy sanding. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Bacteria Dust Endotoxins Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Fungi Hazardous Substances Hunting Lung Diseases Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

  More +
• Keywords:
  Airborne Particulates Air Samples Bacterial Dusts Clean-up Hazards Dust Exposure Dusts Exposure Levels Fishing Fishing Industry Health Effects Health Hazards IAQ Indoor Air Pollution Indoor Air Quality Molds Pulmonary System Disorders Respiratory System Disorders Risk Factors Work Environment Workers

  More +
• ISSN:
  0273-6713
• 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
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061909
• Citation:
  Commercial Fish News 2004 Jun; :12B
• Contact Point Address:
  Ann Backus, MS, Director of Outreach, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston MA
• Email:
  abackus@hohp.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20030701
• Source Full Name:
  Commercial Fisheries News
• End Date:
  20050630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:968fd811dd7aa3b0221bdda5f4f3436e2db7e27f94eeba0d63898a4fafa6d760adc8134379e08c82bc168c361b3616c94998cb90539bde7cb95daa7c7c1dfaf7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225254/cdc_225254_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 328.84 KB ]