Functional disorders of the lung and symptoms of respiratory disease associated with occupational inhalation exposure to wood dust in Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The possible adverse respiratory effects of airborne pollutants in sawmills have not been thoroughly investigated in Iran. Additionally, the extent to which workers are exposed to this organic dust and its associated bioaerosols has not been extensively quantified. Likewise, the predominant bacterial and fungal species associated with wood dust have not been characterized. The present study was undertaken to address these issues. METHODS: One hundred male individuals exposed to wood dust and 100 unexposed male subjects were investigated. They completed a standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire and underwent spirometry testing. Additionally, airborne concentrations of respirable and inhalable dust particles, bacteria, and fungi were measured. RESULTS: The mean concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust particles, bacteria, and fungi were found to be 2.44, 6.76 mg/m3, 756.38, and 299.15 colony-forming units/m3, respectively. The predominant Gram-negative bacteria in the sawmills included the Pseudomonadaceae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Rhinoscleromatis spp., and the predominant fungi consisted of the zygomycetes and Aspergillus spp. Respiratory symptoms were significantly more prevalent among exposed workers. Significant cross-shift decrements were noted in some pulmonary function parameters. Similarly, pre-shift spirometry results indicated that some pulmonary function parameters were significantly lower in the exposed group. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to wood dust and its bioaerosols was associated with significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and both acute (i.e., partially reversible) and chronic (i.e., irreversible) decrements in the functional capacity of the lung. Additionally, the characterized bioaerosols did not differ significantly from those isolated in other parts of the world.

Functional disorders of the lung and symptoms of respiratory disease associated with occupational inhalation exposure to wood dust in Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The possible adverse respiratory effects of airborne pollutants in sawmills have not been thoroughly investigated in Iran. Additionally, the extent to which workers are exposed to this organic dust and its associated bioaerosols has not been extensively quantified. Likewise, the predominant bacterial and fungal species associated with wood dust have not been characterized. The present study was undertaken to address these issues.@*METHODS@#One hundred male individuals exposed to wood dust and 100 unexposed male subjects were investigated. They completed a standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire and underwent spirometry testing. Additionally, airborne concentrations of respirable and inhalable dust particles, bacteria, and fungi were measured.@*RESULTS@#The mean concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust particles, bacteria, and fungi were found to be 2.44, 6.76 mg/m3, 756.38, and 299.15 colony-forming units/m3, respectively. The predominant Gram-negative bacteria in the sawmills included the Pseudomonadaceae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Rhinoscleromatis spp., and the predominant fungi consisted of the zygomycetes and Aspergillus spp. Respiratory symptoms were significantly more prevalent among exposed workers. Significant cross-shift decrements were noted in some pulmonary function parameters. Similarly, pre-shift spirometry results indicated that some pulmonary function parameters were significantly lower in the exposed group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Exposure to wood dust and its bioaerosols was associated with significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and both acute (i.e., partially reversible) and chronic (i.e., irreversible) decrements in the functional capacity of the lung. Additionally, the characterized bioaerosols did not differ significantly from those isolated in other parts of the world.

Functional disorders of the lung and symptoms of respiratory disease associated with occupational inhalation exposure to wood dust in Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The possible adverse respiratory effects of airborne pollutants in sawmills have not been thoroughly investigated in Iran. Additionally, the extent to which workers are exposed to this organic dust and its associated bioaerosols has not been extensively quantified. Likewise, the predominant bacterial and fungal species associated with wood dust have not been characterized. The present study was undertaken to address these issues.METHODS: One hundred male individuals exposed to wood dust and 100 unexposed male subjects were investigated. They completed a standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire and underwent spirometry testing. Additionally, airborne concentrations of respirable and inhalable dust particles, bacteria, and fungi were measured.RESULTS: The mean concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust particles, bacteria, and fungi were found to be 2.44, 6.76 mg/m3, 756.38, and 299.15 colony-forming units/m3, respectively. The predominant Gram-negative bacteria in the sawmills included the Pseudomonadaceae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Rhinoscleromatis spp., and the predominant fungi consisted of the zygomycetes and Aspergillus spp. Respiratory symptoms were significantly more prevalent among exposed workers. Significant cross-shift decrements were noted in some pulmonary function parameters. Similarly, pre-shift spirometry results indicated that some pulmonary function parameters were significantly lower in the exposed group.CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to wood dust and its bioaerosols was associated with significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and both acute (i.e., partially reversible) and chronic (i.e., irreversible) decrements in the functional capacity of the lung. Additionally, the characterized bioaerosols did not differ significantly from those isolated in other parts of the world.

Evaluation of occupational exposure of glazers of a ceramic industry to cobalt blue dye

Cobalt is one of the most important constituent present in ceramic industries. Glazers are the relevant workers when they are producing blue colored ceramic, causing occupational exposure to such metal. Through this study, urinary cobalt was determined in glazers in a ceramic industry when they were producing blue-colored ceramic glazes. In this case-control study, spot urine samples were collected from 49 glazers at the start and end of work shifts [totally 98 samples] in 2011. Control group were well matched for age, height, and weight. A solid phase extraction system was used for separation and preconcentration of samples followed by analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy [ICP-AES]. All participants filled out a self administered questionnaire comprises questions about duration of exposure, work shift, use of mask, skin dermatitis, kind of job, ventilation system, overtime work, age, weight, and height. The lung function tests were performed on each control and cobalt exposed subjects. Analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] was used to evaluate the obtained results. Urinary levels of cobalt were significantly higher in the glazers compared to the control group. There were significant differences at urinary concentration of cobalt at the start and end of the work shift in glazers. Spirometric parameters were significantly lower in the glazers compared to the control group. Among the variables used in questionnaire the significant variables were dermatitis skin, mask, ventilation, and overtime work. This study verified existence of cobalt in the urine glazers showing lower amount than the ACGIH standard

Serum C-reactive protein level in COPD patients and normal population

Serum C-Reactive Protein [CRP] is increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]. It is used as a predictive factor for extra-pulmonary complications determining the prognosis of disease. It has not yet been defined whether this increase is due to the disease itself or is accompanied by ischemic heart disease and cigarette smoking. Thus, we decided to measure the serum CRP level in COPD patients without ischemic heart disease and also in healthy subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and then we evaluated its relation with cigarette smoking, severity of dyspnea, exacerbation episodes, severity of disease and use of inhaled steroids. A comparative-descriptive study was performed on 45 stable COPD patients in 2006. All understudy patients were males. The exclusion criteria included ischemic heart disease and other causes of CRP increase. The control group consisted of 45 healthy men. The samples were selected consecutively. The serum CRP was measured by ELISA [high sensitive]. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 13. Mann-Whitney test showed significant difference between serum CRP levels of COPD patients without ischemic heart disease [52.49 ng/ml] and healthy subjects [28.51 ng/ml] [p=0.01]. There was a significant difference between the serum CRP level and the severity of dyspnea in COPD patients [p=0.04]. No significant difference was detected between CRP level and the severity of disease, exacerbation episodes and use of inhaled steroids. Moreover, there was no significant difference between serum CRP and cigarette smoking in COPD patients and healthy subjects. The results showed that COPD itself can increase the serum CRP without ischemic heart disease and cigarette smoking. Since CRP is known as a systemic inflammatory marker and a major factor causing extrapulmonary complications, we hope this marker be applied for follow-up of patients, evaluation of treatment methods and their efficacy