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

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  • EP ID EP80997
  • DOI -
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How To Cite

Barbara Mackiewicz, Czesława Skórska, Jacek Dutkiewicz (2015). Relationship between concentrations of microbiological agents in the air of agricultural settings and occurrence of work-related symptoms in exposed persons. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 22(3), 473-477. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-80997