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Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers : A study of recycling workers

Hansen, Karoline Kærgaard ; Schlünssen, Vivi ; Broberg, Karin LU orcid ; Østergaard, Kirsten ; Frederiksen, Margit W. ; Sigsgaard, Torben ; Madsen, Anne Mette and Kolstad, Henrik Albert (2024) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 50(8). p.602-612
Abstract

Objective We investigated associations between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift changes in lung function and inflammatory markers among recycling workers. Methods Inhalable dust was measured with personal samplers and analyzed for endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (incubated at 25 °C and 37 °C) levels. Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was measured before and after work-shifts and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CC16, IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and TNF) after the shift. Associations were explored by linear mixed-effects models. Results We included 170 measurements from 88 production workers exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (25 °C and 37 °C) at geometric mean levels of 0.6... (More)

Objective We investigated associations between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift changes in lung function and inflammatory markers among recycling workers. Methods Inhalable dust was measured with personal samplers and analyzed for endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (incubated at 25 °C and 37 °C) levels. Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was measured before and after work-shifts and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CC16, IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and TNF) after the shift. Associations were explored by linear mixed-effects models. Results We included 170 measurements from 88 production workers exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (25 °C and 37 °C) at geometric mean levels of 0.6 mg/m3, 10.7 EU/m3, 1.6×104 CFU/m3, 4.4×104 CFU/m3, and 103 CFU/m3, respectively, and 14 administrative workers exposed at 7-fold lower levels. No associations were observed between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift change in lung function. IL2, IL6, IL10, and TNF concentrations were positively associated with inhalable dust levels, SAA and IL6 with bacteria, CRP, SAA, IL8, and TNF with fungi (25 °C or 37 °C), with the latter being the only statistically significant find-ing (exp(β) 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.96). Conclusions This study of recycling workers exposed to bioaerosol levels generally below those of farmers and compost workers and above background levels did not indicate any acute effect on lung function. Several inflammatory markers tended to increase with exposure, suggesting a systemic effect. Future research should combine data from bioaerosol-exposed workers to uncover health risks that may form the basis for health-based occupational exposure limits.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
bacteria, domestic waste, endotoxin, fungi, inhalable dust
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
50
issue
8
pages
11 pages
publisher
Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health
external identifiers
  • pmid:39264251
  • scopus:85211085106
ISSN
0355-3140
DOI
10.5271/sjweh.4187
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
23b9731c-372b-494d-a918-3f6d91d41de5
date added to LUP
2025-01-20 14:24:55
date last changed
2025-07-08 15:09:43
@article{23b9731c-372b-494d-a918-3f6d91d41de5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective We investigated associations between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift changes in lung function and inflammatory markers among recycling workers. Methods Inhalable dust was measured with personal samplers and analyzed for endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (incubated at 25 °C and 37 °C) levels. Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was measured before and after work-shifts and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CC16, IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and TNF) after the shift. Associations were explored by linear mixed-effects models. Results We included 170 measurements from 88 production workers exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (25 °C and 37 °C) at geometric mean levels of 0.6 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, 10.7 EU/m<sup>3</sup>, 1.6×10<sup>4</sup> CFU/m<sup>3</sup>, 4.4×10<sup>4</sup> CFU/m<sup>3</sup>, and 10<sup>3</sup> CFU/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively, and 14 administrative workers exposed at 7-fold lower levels. No associations were observed between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift change in lung function. IL2, IL6, IL10, and TNF concentrations were positively associated with inhalable dust levels, SAA and IL6 with bacteria, CRP, SAA, IL8, and TNF with fungi (25 °C or 37 °C), with the latter being the only statistically significant find-ing (exp(β) 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.96). Conclusions This study of recycling workers exposed to bioaerosol levels generally below those of farmers and compost workers and above background levels did not indicate any acute effect on lung function. Several inflammatory markers tended to increase with exposure, suggesting a systemic effect. Future research should combine data from bioaerosol-exposed workers to uncover health risks that may form the basis for health-based occupational exposure limits.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hansen, Karoline Kærgaard and Schlünssen, Vivi and Broberg, Karin and Østergaard, Kirsten and Frederiksen, Margit W. and Sigsgaard, Torben and Madsen, Anne Mette and Kolstad, Henrik Albert}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  keywords     = {{bacteria; domestic waste; endotoxin; fungi; inhalable dust}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{602--612}},
  publisher    = {{Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers : A study of recycling workers}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4187}},
  doi          = {{10.5271/sjweh.4187}},
  volume       = {{50}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}