Lung function and precipitating antibodies in low exposed wood trimmers in Sweden

Dahlqvist, Monica; Johard, Urban; Alexandersson, R; Bergstrom, Björn; Ekholm, U; Eklund, Anders; Milosevich, Boris; Tornling, Göran; Ulfvarson, Ulf

doi:10.1002/ajim.4700210410

Cited by 45 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…A significant relationship was found between the reduction in lung function and airborne mold concentrations (Dahlqvist et al 1992). Respiratory symptoms, febrile episodes, allergic diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and asthma due to bioaerosol exposure have been documented among workers employed in waste industry (Chiba et al 2009;Poulsen et al 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Performance of an Electrostatic Precipitator with Superhydrophobic Surface when Collecting Airborne Bacteria

Han

Mainelis

2010

Aerosol Science and Technology

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Modern bioaerosol sampling and analysis techniques that enable rapid detection of low bioagent concentrations in various environments are needed to help us understand the causal relationship between adverse health effects and bioaerosol exposures and also to enable the timely biohazard detection in case of intentional release.We have developed a novel bioaerosol sampler, an electrostatic precipitator with superhydrophobic surface (EPSS), where a combination of electrostatic collection mechanism with superhydrophobic collection surface allows for efficient particle collection, removal, and concentration in water droplets as small as 5 µL. The sampler's performance at different sampling flow rates and sampling times was tested with two common bacteria: Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis. The collection efficiency was determined using the traditional method of microscopic counting as well as the whole-cell quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (QPCR). The tests indicated that the new sampler achieves collection efficiency as high as 72%. A combination of the satisfactory collection efficiency and the small collecting water droplet volumes allowed achieving sample concentration rates that exceed 1 × 10 6 . In addition, the collection efficiency for both bacteria obtained by the two different methods was not statistically different, indicating the sampler's compatibility with the PCR-based sample analysis techniques. In addition, the whole-cell QPCR does not require DNA extraction prior to the PCR reaction which offers faster sample processing.Very high concentration rates achieved with the new sampler as well as its compatibility with the QPCR methodology point toward its suitability for detecting low concentrations of airborne bacterial agents in various environments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Performance of an Electrostatic Precipitator with Superhydrophobic Surface when Collecting Airborne Bacteria

Han

Mainelis

2010

Aerosol Science and Technology

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“…A temporary decrease in these variables has been reported to be associated with exposure to irritating substances. A decrease in FVC over a shift is, for example, reported to be associated with exposure to diesel engine exhausts (22) and a decrease in FEVI.O over a work week has been reported to be associated with mold exposure in a sawmill (23).…”

Section: Lung Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporary health effects from exposure to water-borne paints.

Ulfvarson¹,

Alexandersson²,

Dahlqvist³

et al. 1992

Scand J Work Environ Health

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SCULLMAN J. Temporary health effects from exposure to water-borne paints. Scand J Work En viron Health 1992;18:376-87. Temporary health effects of exposure to experimental paints were studied . Ten painters feeling nuisance from water-borne paints and eight painter s not feeling such nuisance applied eight experimental water-borne paints according to normal work routines. The effects were a decrease in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in I s and peak expiratory flow, an increase in urine excretion, and a decrease in urine density. A small, but statistically highly significant, increase in the mean volume of erythrocytes was observed. The effects were similar in the two groups, but the "nuisance group" reacted with a larger urine excretion and a larger increase in the mean volume of erythrocytes. The effects did not influence physical work capacity. The effects on the lungs and urinary excretion were probably not associated with the organic solvents or ammonia in the paints. Instead, they were probably due to derivatives of isothiazolinone. This assumption needs verification.Key terms: blood pressure, forced vital capacity, isothiazolinones, lung function, mean volume of erythrocytes, organic solvents, peak expiratory flow, preservatives, urination.The work environment of house painters has been debated for a long time, and this trade has had recruitment difficulties. Besides, many house painters leave the trade too early. One reason is the fear of chronic effects on the brain because of exposure to organic solvents (1, 2). The use of water-borne paints should reduce or eliminate exposure to organic solvents, and nowadays, in Sweden, water-borne paints are used for most construction painting.Water-borne paints are mainly emulsion paints based on synthetic polymers, so-called latex paints. They have polyvinyl acetate as a binder or acrylate and copolymers for especially demanding purposes (eg, on joinery products). The latex paints contain water, but there are some volatile organic compounds as well. Small amounts (ie, tenths of a percent) of monomer residues may be present after the polymerization reaction (eg, vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate) (3). The paint manufacturers add organic solvents, usually glycols, glycol ethers, and esters, to promote the film formation process and to improve the application properties. The proportion of solvents has to be higher when the demand for gloss and abrasion resistance is high. The solvent contents are -s2% in wall paints and 7-8010 in paints for joinery products, sometimes even more than 10% (3).Latex emulsions can be a favorable substrate for the growth of microorganisms. Therefore, preservatives have to be added. Paint manufacturers often use mix- 8-9 (3). Some arnines can be added to certain paints or raw materials, partly for pH adjustment and partly to improve the emulsion of oils and alkyds in water.The use of water-borne paints can decrease or eliminate some of the health hazards met when paints with an organic solvent base are used . Yet water-bor...

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“…Abietic acid and terpene levels were lower than those found in sawmills and joinery shops (Eriksson et al, 1996(Eriksson et al, , 1997Demers et al, 2000) as expected, because sawing tends to rupture wood cells and therefore releases the cell contents, including abietic acid and terpenes. Previous studies in sawmills concluded that wood trimmers exposed to inhalable dust, organic dust (molds), terpenes and endotoxins may develop airway symptoms (Hedenstierna et al, 1983(Hedenstierna et al, , 1986Dahlqvist et al, 1992). Formaldehyde levels were lower than those measured before in plywood mills (Malaka and Kodama, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Respiratory Symptoms and Occupational Exposures in New Zealand Plywood Mill Workers

Fransman

McLean

Douwes³

et al. 2003

The Annals of Occupational Hygiene

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Objectives: To study work exposure and respiratory symptoms in New Zealand plywood mill workers.Methods: Personal inhalable dust (n = 57), bacterial endotoxin (n = 20), abietic acid (n = 20), terpene (n = 20) and formaldehyde (n = 22) measurements were taken and a respiratory health questionnaire was administered to 112 plywood mill workers.Results: Twenty-six percent of the dust exposures exceeded 1 mg/m 3 , however, none of the samples exceeded the legal limit of 5 mg/m 3 [geometric mean (GM) = 0.7 mg/m 3 , geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 1.9]. Workers in the composer area (where broken sheets are joined together) were significantly (P < 0.01) more highly exposed. Endotoxin levels were low to moderate (GM = 23.0 EU/m 3 , GSD = 2.8). Abietic acid levels ranged from 0.3 to 2.4 µg/m 3 (GM = 0.7 µg/m 3 , GSD = 1.8) and were significantly (P < 0.05) higher for workers in the composer area of the process. Geometric mean levels of α-pinene, β-pinene and ∆ 3 -carene were 1.0 (GSD = 2.7), 1.5 (GSD = 2.8) and 0.1 (GSD = 1.4), respectively, and α-pinene and β-pinene levels were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for workers in the 'green end' of the process, up to and including the veneer dryers. Conclusions: Plywood mill workers are exposed to inhalable dust, bacterial endotoxin, abietic acid, terpenes and formaldehyde, and they appear to have an increased risk of developing work-related respiratory symptoms. These symptoms may be due to formaldehyde exposure, although a potential causal role for other exposures cannot be excluded.

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Lung function and precipitating antibodies in low exposed wood trimmers in Sweden

Cited by 45 publications

References 19 publications

Performance of an Electrostatic Precipitator with Superhydrophobic Surface when Collecting Airborne Bacteria

Performance of an Electrostatic Precipitator with Superhydrophobic Surface when Collecting Airborne Bacteria

Temporary health effects from exposure to water-borne paints.

Respiratory Symptoms and Occupational Exposures in New Zealand Plywood Mill Workers

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