Work-related symptoms and dose-response relationships for personal exposures and pulmonary function among woodworkers

Mandryk, John; Alwis, K. Udeni; Hocking, Ailsa D.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199905)35:5<481::aid-ajim5>3.0.co;2-n

Cited by 104 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…In this investigation average, fungal concentration in sawmill air was 178 times of indoor residential air whereas average bacterial concentration was 111 times in saw-mills as compared to indoor residential air. Exposure to a concentration of airborne microorganisms revealed in the present study is higher than the degree of exposure found in saw mills in some of the studies [2,9,10] whereas similar high concentration has been reported from sawmills where there is more mold infection of wood. [11] Increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and decreased PF values, particularly highly significantly reduced FEF 25-75% in study group clearly indicate compromised PFs in these workers with the involvement of small airways.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

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Impact of bioaerosol exposure on respiratory health of saw-mill workers

Sawane¹,

Sawane²

2017

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol

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Background: Occupational environments with organic dust and bioaerosols pose danger to the respiratory health of the personnel of such environments. Respiratory health of the workers of saw-mills in relation to airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations has rarely been studied in India. Aims and Objectives: This study was, therefore, designed to assess and compare the pulmonary functions (PFs) of saw-mill workers with those of matching controls. The study also aimed at assessment of bioaerosol exposure in saw-mills as compared to indoor air in a residential area as a control. Materials and Methods:The study design was cross-sectional case-control. PFs (percent predicted of forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume 1 s/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow rate, forced mid expiratory flow 25-75%, and maximum ventilatory volume) were assessed by computerized spirometer (Helios, Recorders and Medicare System, India) in 30 saw-mill workers with minimum exposure of more than 5 years. 30 age and sex matched controls were also evaluated for the same parameters. Bacterial and fungal concentration (CFU/m 3 ) in the air of saw-mills with residential indoor air as a control was evaluated by volumetric air sampler (Hi-Air, Hi-Media, India). Appropriate statistical tests were used to compare respiratory symptoms, PFs, and bioaerosol levels. Results: Statistically significant lower values of PF parameters were observed in cases as compared to controls. Bacterial and Fungal concentrations in saw-mill air were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than control indoor air. Conclusion: The output of this study suggests a compromised respiratory status in workers of saw-mills with more exposure to bacteria and fungal spores. The results call for urgent measures to reduce environmental bioaerosol exposure in organic dust environments like saw-mills.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

“…[7] Similar decrements in FEF 25-75% as obtained in this study have been reported in different occupational environments including sawmills with bioaerosol exposure. [10] This finding suggests early small airway obstruction changes in workers exposed to study environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Impact of bioaerosol exposure on respiratory health of saw-mill workers

Sawane¹,

Sawane²

2017

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol

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“…It is the most widely used most basic, effort-dependent pulmonary function test (PFT) and can measure the effects of restriction or obstruction on lung function [24,26]. For example, examination of a group of potato processing workers indicated an across-shift decrease in FEV 1 and MEF values associated with exposure to airborne endotoxin [27,28]. Another study indicated a dose-response relationship between wood dust concentration and post-shift reduction of FEV 1 , FEV 25-75 % and FVC.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disorders among rice mill workers in India

Ghosh¹,

Gangopadhyay

Das

2014

Environ Health Prev Med

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Objectives Lung function tests have become an integral part of assessment of pulmonary disease. Diseases of the respiratory system induced by occupational dusts are influenced by the duration of exposure. The aim of the study is to investigate the impairment of lung function and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the rice mill workers. Methods A total of 120 rice mill workers from three districts of Karnataka were included in this study. Fifty urban dwellers from the same socio-economic level were selected as controls. The study included clinical examination, assessment of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function test, measurement of peak expiratory flow rate, absolute eosinophil count, ESR estimation, total IgE estimation and radiographic test. Results The present study has shown that the rice mill workers complained of several types of respiratory disorders like phlegm (40.8 %), dyspnea (44.2 %), chest tightness (26.7 %), cough (21.7 %), and nose irritation (27.5 %). Rice mill workers exposed to dust presented significantly (p \ 0.05) lower levels of FVC (3.44 ± 0.11), FEV 1 (2.73 ± 0.15) and PEFR (304.95 ± 28.79) than the controls. The rice mill workers are having significantly higher absolute eosinophil counts, total IgE and ESR than control groups. The hematological findings suggest that the harmful effects may be linked to both non-specific irritation and allergic responses to rice husk dust among rice mill workers. Conclusion Dust exposure in the working environment affects the lung function values and increased the respiratory symptoms among the rice mill workers.

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“…International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reports that wood dust causes cancer and included it in 1995 into Group 1 carcinogens [1]. Besides, wood contains many microorganisms (including fungi), toxins and chemical substances and they may significantly affect human health [1,2,[8][9][10]. It is recognised that those agents may cause irritation of oral cavity and throat, tightness of the chest, irritant dermatitis, urticaria, alveolitis, deterioration of pulmonary functions, and a reduction of FEV 1 [1,2,7,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational exposure to wood dust and health effects on the respiratory system in a minor industrial estate in Bursa/Turkey

Osman¹,

Pala²

2009

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate occupational exposure to wood dust in the furniture industry in a minor industrial estate in Bursa/Turkey. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between October 2006 and May 2007. In this study, a total of 656 persons, 328 woodworkers and 328 controls were included. A questionnaire was used in the study. Physical examination and the pulmonary function tests (MIR-Spirobank G) of the workers were performed. A portable Aircheck 2000 pump was used to collect the specimens of wood dust from the workplaces. NIOSH Method 0500 was employed for the gravimetric measurements of dust. Results: The average dust concentration at the workplace was 2.04±1.53 mg/m 3 . It was reported that 176 of workers (53.7%) had blocked nose while working, 141 (43.0%) had redness of the eyes, 135 (41.2%) had itching eyes and 78 (23.8%) had runny nose. No symptoms were observed in the control group while they were working at the workplace. The mean FEV 1 and FVC values of woodworkers, among both smokers and non smokers, were significantly low, although the FEV 1 /FVC value was high (p < 0.05). An increase both in FEV 1 and FVC values was detected among the woodworkers who had a working period less than 10 years and were exposed to wood dust at concentrations over 4 mg/m 3 compared to the woodworkers who were exposed to wood dust at less than 4 mg/m 3 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: As a result, in this study it was pointed out that the exposure to wood dust adversely influenced the workers respiratory functions. Besides, in this study a question associated with the healthy worker effect that can adversely influence health of workers exposed to wood dust at less than (4 mg/m 3 ) is revealed.

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Work-related symptoms and dose-response relationships for personal exposures and pulmonary function among woodworkers

Cited by 104 publications

References 45 publications

Impact of bioaerosol exposure on respiratory health of saw-mill workers

Impact of bioaerosol exposure on respiratory health of saw-mill workers

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disorders among rice mill workers in India

Occupational exposure to wood dust and health effects on the respiratory system in a minor industrial estate in Bursa/Turkey

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