Byssinosis and COPD rates among factory workers manufacturing hemp and jute

Er, Mükremin; Emri, Salïh; Demir, Ahmet Uğur; Thorne, Peter S.; Karakoca, Yalcin; Bilir, Nazmi; Baris, I

doi:10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00512

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…(3, 9) Hemp workers with exposure to organic aerosols have higher IgE titers and chronic respiratory symptoms compared to non-exposed hemp workers (10) and a high prevalence of work-related respiratory conditions, such as byssinosis. (3, 11–14) Like hemp workers, cannabis industry workers are expected to be exposed to products, such as leaves, buds, sap/exudate, flowers, and pollen and their associated plant pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, when handling the plant during cultivation and processing procedures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial hazards during harvesting and processing at an outdoor United States cannabis farm

Green

Couch

Lemons

et al. 2018

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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Cannabis cultivation is an emerging industry within the United States. Organic dust derived in part from naturally occurring microorganisms is known to cause byssinosis in the hemp industry. In this pilot study, bacteria and fungi encountered by workers at an outdoor cannabis farm that utilized organic practices were elucidated by 16 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region sequencing, respectively. Area (n = 14) and personal air samples (n = 12) were collected during harvesting and processing activities. 16 S rRNA and ITS regions of extracted bacterial and fungal genomic DNA were amplified and sequenced using Sanger sequencing. Bacterial sequencing resolved 1,077 sequences that were clustered into 639 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and predominantly placed in the phylum, Actinobacteria (46%). Personal air samples revealed higher bacterial and Actinobacteria diversity compared to outdoor area samples collected within the facility (p < 0.05). A high degree of dissimilarity between bacteria was identified within and between samples. Fungal sequences (n = 985) were identified and predominantly clustered in the phylum Ascomycota (53%). Of the 216 fungal OTUs elucidated, the cannabis plant pathogenic species, Botrytis cinerea, was the most prevalent and accounted for 34% of all fungal sequences. The relative abundance of B. cinerea was highest in personal air samples (59%) compared to area samples collected in the drying room (19%), greenhouse (18%), and outdoor environment (6%). There was 49% sample similarity between fungi identified within personal air samples, but higher dissimilarity coefficients were observed within and between greenhouse, drying room, and outdoor area air samples. The results of this pilot study suggest that the cannabis farm workers are potentially exposed to Actinobacteria as well as the cannabis plant pathogen, B. cinerea during harvesting, bud-stripping, and hand-trimming processes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial hazards during harvesting and processing at an outdoor United States cannabis farm

Green

Couch

Lemons

et al. 2018

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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“…The findings are almost similar to our observations. The prevalence of obstructive lung disease was much less (0.8%) than that of other studies (17% -28%) [12]. It may happen that the workers suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are considered disable and removed from job.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Respiratory and other illnesses among the jute-mill workers in an industrial unit of Bangladesh

Rhaman¹,

Morshed²,

Sayeed³

2019

IMC J Med Sci

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Background and aims: Bangladesh produces 33% of the world’s jute and about 40 million people in Bangladesh are directly or indirectly involved in the jute sector. The jute (organic) dust inhalation causes byssinosis and other respiratory illnesses. However, no study has yet addressed the health status of the jute handlers/workers in Bangladesh. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of respiratory illnesses among the Jute Mill Workers (JMWs). Additionally, this study tried to find out the overall health status of the JMWs which included presence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) and its related risk, which are usually ignored. Study design: A cross-sectional study conducted in a purposively selected jute mill - 40km off from Dhaka City. Of the 5500 workers, a list of 600 workers was provided by the mill authority for enrollment in the study. The investigations included – a) interviewing on socio-demography and clinical history; b) anthropometry (height, weight, waist- and hip-circumference); c) blood pressure measurement; d) estimation of fasting blood glucose and lipids; e) peak flow meter test; f) spirometry; g) high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and electrocardiography. Results: Of the enlisted 600 jute mill workers, 514 (men / women = 478 / 36) took part in the study. The response rate was 85%. For overall estimate of bio-physical characteristics (n = 514), the means (95% confidence interval) of age, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 44.19 (43.34 – 45.04) years, 24.44 (24.16 – 24.73), 0.90 (0.90 – 0.91), 118.9 (117.4 – 120.4), 79.69 (78.81 – 8/0.54), respectively. Regarding social class and education, 84.4% were from non-affluent (poor) class and 50% were illiterate. About 88% of the JMWs had been working for ≥42 hours a week and 91.6% were exposed to moderate or heavy work (equivalent to ≥60 min walk). The prevalence of breathlessness, tightness of chest and chronic cough were 16.5%, 25.7% and 16.3%, respectively. The restrictive and obstructive pulmonary functions were detected in 7.0% and 0.8% of study population respectively. The prevalence of systolic hypertension was 16.5%, diastolic hypertension was 7.2% and diabetes (IFG+DM) was 13.3%. They had increased cardiovascular risks – hypertriglyceridemia (23.9%) and hypercholesterolemia (24.3%). Conclusions: JMWs have been suffering mostly from respiratory illnesses and a substantial number of them suffer from undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. Dyslipidemia was also prevalent as a potential risk factor. The study could not assess ocular, auditory, musculoskeletal and mental health and it suggests that a well designed study should address these health related problems of JMWs. IMC J Med Sci 2019; 13(1): 007

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“…16 Other studies have shown that flu-like symptoms are common among cotton workers and farmers and workers in food processing industries, who are exposed to other biological active agents in bioaerosols. [17][18][19][20][21] Melbostad and Eduard 9 showed that farmers who were exposed to fungal spores in their work environment had more eye symptoms and cough compared to controls. Work-related cough with phlegm and runny nose were shown to be more common among Russian trawler fishermen who work with fish filleting on board compared to controls.…”

Section: Control Cases Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work-related Symptoms and Asthma among Fish Processing Workers

Dahlman-Höglund

Andersson

2020

Journal of Agromedicine

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After observing several clinical patients with respiratory symptoms, we initiated a questionnaire survey to assess prevalence of and predictors for asthma and work-related symptoms among workers in fish processing plants. A questionnaire with items on work conditions, work-related symptoms, and respiratory symptoms/diseases was sent to 916 fish processing workers, the 1836 licenced fishermen in Sweden, and 1965 controls; of those, 43%, 57%, and 53%, respectively, responded. Risks, hazard ratios (HRs), and prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated with Cox regression, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. The risk of asthma among fish filleting workers was increased during the years working in the fish processing industry when compared to the other fish processing workers and controls (HR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6-8.1, adjusted for atopy, gender, and ever smoking). The filleters had an increased PR for most of the work-related respiratory symptoms investigated. All fish processing workers had a higher PR for flu-like symptoms. Use of a pressure sprayer was identified as a risk for asthma and respiratory symptoms among both fish processing workers and controls. Filleters had changed work tasks because of respiratory symptoms more often (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.02) than other fish processing workers. In conclusion the fish filleters and pressure sprayer users reported more adult asthma and cough with phlegm compared to the other fish processing workers and controls. The use of pressure sprayers must be reduced and machinery should be completely encased to reduce workers' exposure to bioaerosols and its effects on the respiratory tract.

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Byssinosis and COPD rates among factory workers manufacturing hemp and jute

Abstract: Because of high exposures to jute and hemp dusts that are associated with high byssinosis rates, personal protection and environmental hygiene is crucial to prevention of byssinosis.

Cited by 20 publications

References 22 publications

Microbial hazards during harvesting and processing at an outdoor United States cannabis farm

Microbial hazards during harvesting and processing at an outdoor United States cannabis farm

Respiratory and other illnesses among the jute-mill workers in an industrial unit of Bangladesh

Work-related Symptoms and Asthma among Fish Processing Workers

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