Exposure, symptoms and airway inflammation among sewage workers.
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2010, Vol 17, Issue 2
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to determine the associations between dust, endotoxins and bacterial exposure, and health effects in sewage workers. Exposure of 19 workers handling dry sludge and 25 other sewage workers was measured. Controls were office workers from compost and sewage plants. Spirometry, acoustic rhinometry and nitric oxide in exhaled air were performed before and after exposure were measured. CRP was measured in blood samples. It was found that workers handling dry sludge were exposed to higher levels of dust and endotoxins than other workers and reported more airway and systemic symptoms than controls. Compared to controls, FEV(1)/FVC was 0.12 lower in workers handling dry sludge and 0.05 lower in other sewage workers. Nose irritation, cough and headache were more prevalent in workers handling dry sludge (ORs 2.3-23), and together with unusual tiredness associated with endotoxins and/or dust, ORs 2.9-34 for-10-fold increases in exposure. Cross-shift decreases of nasal dimensions were larger in workers handling dry sludge than controls and were associated with dust and endotoxin exposure. It was concluded that workers handling dry sludge were higher exposed to endotoxins and dust than other sewage workers and also reported more respiratory and systemic symptoms. Exposure-response relationships were found for nasal dimensions, nose irritation and systemic symptoms.
Authors and Affiliations
Kari Kulvik Heldal, Lene Madsø, Per Ole Huser, Wijnand Eduard
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP58698
- DOI -
- Views 156
- Downloads 0
Odour annoyance in the neighbourhood of livestock farming – perceived health and health care seeking behaviour
[b]Introduction and objectives[/b]. Odour annoyance forms the main source of environmental stress in residents living in the proximity of animal feeding operations (AFOs) and it has been associated with reduced health. T...
Professional communication competences of physiotherapists – practice and educational perspectives
Background: Dissonance between the high ‘technical’ competences of medical professionals, including physiotherapists, and the relatively low level of patient satisfaction with care received is a phenomenon observed in ma...
Reduction of Ochratoxin A in Chicken Feed Using Probiotic
Mycotoxins present in fodders may evoke health problems of animals and people. The data published by FAO in 2001 show that 25% of raw materials are contaminated with mycotoxins, while their type and concentration are to...
Life quality of women with breast cancer after mastectomy or breast conserving therapy treated with adjuvant chemotherapy
[b]Introduction.[/b] Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant neoplasm in women. The evaluation of the quality of life has become a treatment parameter as important as survival. [b]Objective. [/b]The aim of the stu...
Cytotoxic and Antiviral Compounds from Bryophytes and Inedible Fungi
Over several hundred new compounds have been isolated from the bryophytes and more than 40 new carbon skeletalterpenoids and aromatic compounds found in this class. Most of liverworts elaborate characteristic odiferous,...