Respiratory Inflammation Among Workers Exposed to Airborne Dust With Endotoxins in a Coffee Curing Factory.
Author
Summary, in English
OBJECTIVE:
To study dust exposure and inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract among coffee curing workers in Tanzania.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tanzanian coffee curing factory. Coffee workers (n = 15) were compared with unexposed controls (n = 18); all workers were nonsmokers. Exhaled nitric oxide was examined using an electrochemistry-based NIOX MINO device. Personal air samples were analyzed for total dust and endotoxins, using gravimetric analysis and the chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate endpoint assay, respectively.
RESULTS:
Total dust levels ranged from 0.2 to 27.9 mg/m, and endotoxin levels ranged from 42 to 75,083 endotoxin units/m. Concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide, analyzed by linear regression and adjusted for age (β = 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.08 to 1.06; P = 0.02), was higher among coffee workers than among the control group.
CONCLUSION:
The results indicate a relationship between the coffee dust and signs of respiratory inflammation.
To study dust exposure and inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract among coffee curing workers in Tanzania.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tanzanian coffee curing factory. Coffee workers (n = 15) were compared with unexposed controls (n = 18); all workers were nonsmokers. Exhaled nitric oxide was examined using an electrochemistry-based NIOX MINO device. Personal air samples were analyzed for total dust and endotoxins, using gravimetric analysis and the chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate endpoint assay, respectively.
RESULTS:
Total dust levels ranged from 0.2 to 27.9 mg/m, and endotoxin levels ranged from 42 to 75,083 endotoxin units/m. Concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide, analyzed by linear regression and adjusted for age (β = 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.08 to 1.06; P = 0.02), was higher among coffee workers than among the control group.
CONCLUSION:
The results indicate a relationship between the coffee dust and signs of respiratory inflammation.
Department/s
Publishing year
2012
Language
English
Pages
847-850
Publication/Series
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume
54
Issue
7
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Topic
- Environmental Health and Occupational Health
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1536-5948