Relationship between concentrations of microbiological agents in the air of agricultural settings and occurrence of work-related symptoms in exposed persons
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2015, Vol 22, Issue 3
Abstract
For assessment of the dose-response relationship between concentrations of microbial agents in the air of various agricultural settings and occurrence of work-related symptoms in exposed workers, a meta-analysis of the results obtained in 1994–2007 on the territory of eastern Poland was performed. The studies on the airborne concentrations of total culturable microorganisms, mesophilic bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, thermophilic actinomycetes, fungi, and bacterial endotoxins, as well as on the frequency of work-related respiratory and general symptoms in the exposed workers, were carried out at grain, thyme, valerian, flax, and hop handling on farms, in cow barns, piggeries, horse stables and in a modern hatchery. The airborne concentrations of the total microorganisms were in the range of 9.2–1236.5 × 10[sup]3[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] , of the total mesophilic bacteria 3.5–1225.8 × 10[sup]3[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] , of Gram-negative bacteria 0.0- 46.2 × 10[sup]3[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] , of thermophilic actinomycetes 0.0–7.1 × 10[sup]3[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] , of fungi 2.1–77.9 × 10[sup]3[/sup] CFU/m[sup]3[/sup] , and of bacterial endotoxin 0.00925–429.55 µg/m[sup]3[/sup] . The frequency of work-related symptoms ranged between 21.7–63.8%. In a meta-analysis for assessment of the correlations between the log-transformed concentrations of airborne microbial agents and the occurrence of work-related symptoms, the multiple regression test was applied. Statistically significant correlations were found between the occurrence of work-related symptoms and the concentration of total airborne microorganisms (R=0.748555; P=0.020317), mesophilic bacteria (R=0.7573; P=0.029548), Gram-negative bacteria (R=0.835938; P=0.019129), and endotoxins (R=0.705356; P=0.03378). The correlations between the concentrations of thermophilic actinomycetes and fungi, on one side, and frequency of work-related symptoms on the other, did not attain the threshold of significance (P=0.087049 and P=0.062963, respectively). Results of the meta-analysis confirm harmful health effects of the total airborne microorganisms, total airborne mesophilic bacteria, airborne Gram-negative bacteria, and airborne bacterial endotoxin on the occupationally-exposed agricultural workers, and indicate a need for the establishment of internationally recognized occupational exposure limits for these microbial agents.
Authors and Affiliations
Barbara Mackiewicz, Czesława Skórska, Jacek Dutkiewicz
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80997
- DOI -
- Views 161
- Downloads 0
Microbial air quality at Szczawnica sanatorium, Poland.
Nowadays, sanatorium treatment is undergoing a renaissance; however, data on air quality in such premises are scarce. The aim of this study was to characterize microbial air quality at the Szczawnica sanatorium in Southe...
Health improvement in Poland is contingent on continued extensive tobacco control measures
Tobacco smoking is a major avoidable single cause of premature mortality in Poland. Almost one in three Polish males do not live to 65 years of age, and almost half of this premature mortality can be traced back to the m...
Influence of meteorological parameters in hourly patterns of grass (Poaceae) pollen concentrations.
Hourly grass pollen concentrations were recorded over a 10-year study period at an aerobiological station of Badajoz (SW Spain). The record was carried out by means of a Burkard spore trap. Meteorological data were used...
Daily tobacco smoking patterns in rural and urban areas of Poland – the results of the GATS study
Introduction and objective: Cigarette smoking is one of the main causes of premature death worldwide. Tobacco smoking is influenced by social and economic factors such as age, gender, level of education and place of resi...
Sexual activity of Polish adults
Aim. The purpose of this research was to explore the subject of sexual activity in the Polish population, with special focus on age and gender differences, and sexual infidelity. Sexual activity is one of the basic facto...