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Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2003
Airway inflammation in waste handlers exposed to bioaerosols assessed by induced sputum
1 National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo and 2 Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Norway. 3 Dept of Environmental Medicine, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
CORRESPONDENCE: K.K. Heldal, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O.Box 8149 Dept, 0033 Oslo, Norway. Fax: 47 23195206. E-mail: kari.heldal@stami.no
Keywords: bioaerosol exposure, household waste, induced sputum
Received: July 8, 2002
Accepted October 28, 2002
Work-associated lower airway inflammation in waste collectors was examined by induced sputum and correlated with the bioaerosol exposure.
Organic waste collectors (n=25) underwent induced sputum collection and spirometry before work on Monday and the following Thursday. Total cells, cell differentials, interleukin (IL)-8 and eosinophilic cationic protein were determined. Personal full-shift exposure measurements were performed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and analysed for total bacteria, fungal spores, endotoxins and ß(1–3)-glucans.
The percentage of neutrophils (46–58%) and the IL-8 concentration (1.1–1.4 ng·mL–1) increased from Monday to Thursday. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was significantly reduced on Thursday, and the decrease in FEV1/forced vital capacity correlated with the increase in the percentage of neutrophils. The median exposure to endotoxin (range 7–180 EU·m–3) and ß(1–3)-glucan (range 5–220 ng·m–3) was correlated with the increase in IL-8.
Bioaerosol exposure during waste collection induced an inflammatory response in the lower airways, characterised by neutrophils and interleukin-8 secretion, that influenced the lung function. The inflammatory response was related to microbial components in the bioaerosol and was more pronounced for endotoxin than ß(1–3)-glucan exposure. No associations were found for mould spores or bacteria.
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