Exposure and Airway Effects of Seafood Industry Workers in Northern Norway

Abstract

Seafood industry workers showed a high prevalence of work-related airway symptoms. Further research on the relationship between exposure and effects is necessary.

Respiratory symptoms, lung functions, and exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in two types of fish processing workers: Russian trawler fishermen and Norwegian salmon industry workers

“…1,5 Asthma prevalence among trawler workers was 3.9% and is consistent with previously reported asthma prevalence of between 2 and 8% in workers processing bony fish, irrespective of industry type. 19 Work-related COPD has previously been described in occupational environments where bioaerosols are an important exposure.…”

“…1,24 The two-part self-administered questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic, health, and occupational characteristics. The first part contained questions on demographic data, smoking habits, and respiratory and allergic diseases.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] However, little is known about the similarities and differences in symptom profiles and lung function outcomes in workers from different types of seafood workers. Negative respiratory effects may be associated with workplace and/or individual factors.…”

Purified sardine and king crab trypsin display individual differences in PAR-2-, NF-κB-, and IL-8 signaling

“…Inhalation of particulate matter may affect the airway epithelial cells and previous studies have shown that production workers in the seafood industry inhale aerosols containing biological material (Bang et al, 2005;Jeebhay et al, 2005). Reports by Bang and co-workers (2005) and Shiryaeva and coworkers (2010) show an enhanced occurrence of respiratory symptoms from both the upper and lower parts of the airways in workers in the Norwegian salmon industry.…”

Occupational Exposure to Bioaerosols in Norwegian Crab Processing Plants

“…Workers processing seafood are exposed to bioaerosols in their breathing zone that may be inhaled (Bang et al 2005;Weytjens et al 1999;Shiryaeva et al 2013). Bioaerosols are particulate matter or liquid droplets suspended in air, containing agents of biological origin such as endotoxins, microorganisms, and proteins including high molecular weight allergens and enzymes Bang et al 2005) depending on the type of seafood being processed Jeebhay et al 2001).…”