Are Respiratory Decrements Associated with Exposure to Particles Including Endotoxins on Large California Dairies?

Details

• Personal Author:
  Armitage T ; Bennett D ; Mitchell D ; Mitloehner F ; Schenker M ; Tancredi D
• Description:
  Objectives: To determine whether exposure to particulate matter (PM) including endotoxins on large California dairies is associated with decreased cross-shift respiratory function. Methods: Male workers at 13 dairies and one control facility wore personal air samplers collecting total suspended particles (TSP) or PM2.5 over their shift. Pre- and post-shift questionnaires and pulmonary function tests were also conducted. TSP endotoxins were assessed using recombinant Factor C and GC-MS. Associations between exposure to PM and cross-shift lung function changes were assessed by regression analysis using GLM's. Results: Data from 205 dairy and 45 control facility workers were analysed. Exposure to either PM or endotoxin was significantly higher in dairy versus control workers (p<0.0001). Geometric mean dairy exposures were 793 and 35 µg/m3 for TSP and PM2.5; 326 EU/m3 and 0.45 picomoles/m3 for TSP endotoxin respectively. Across a shift, 29.3% and 15.6% of dairy and control workers respectively had ≥3% decrease in FEV1 while 29.6% and 13.3% of workers had similar decrements in FVC. Cross-shift pulmonary function outcomes were modelled against exposures and potential relevant factors such as smoking, age, shift length and dairy/control worker. PM2.5, TSP and endotoxin exposures were not significantly associated with changes in pulmonary function. Dairy versus control work was associated with cross-shift FEV1 regression estimates of -64 ml (p =0.02) and FVC estimates of -90 ml (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Cross-shift decrements in pulmonary function were associated significantly with dairy work. However neither the concentration of PM nor endotoxin components in TSP were associated with these decrements. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dairy Products Endotoxins Lung Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Air Samplers Dairy Products Lung Function Particulates Pulmonary Function
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068443
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2011 Sep; 68(Suppl 1):A92
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• Performing Organization:
  University of California - Davis
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Supplement:
  1
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:10a6b4922eee98359009c3be760902d9672964248019ad20d5fa960335e667da32f1fc929650dd191a15ef18fda165a51e753b1e9dee071cea96697ca9fb7dc3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230596/cdc_230596_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 57.14 KB ]