Personal inhalable dust and endotoxin exposure among workers in an integrated textile factory

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine personal exposure to inhalable dust and endotoxin levels among workers in an integrated cotton-processing textile factory and exposure variability across the different work sections. Full shift measurements were carried out using inhalable conical samplers with 37?mm glass-fiber filters. Personal inhalable dust was determined gravimetrically, and endotoxin levels were analyzed by kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocytes Lysate assay. The geometric means of personal dust and endotoxin concentrations were 0.75?mg·m^?3 and 831 EU·m^?3, respectively. The highest dust and endotoxin concentrations were observed in carding section (1.34?mg·m^?3 and 6,381 EU·m^?3, respectively). Altogether, 11% of dust and 89% of endotoxin samples exceeded workplace exposure limits. This study showed a moderate correlation between inhalable dust and endotoxin (r?=?0.450, p?<?0.001). Our findings indicate that low dust exposure does not guarantee a low exposure to endotoxin.     

Occupational risk factors for nasopharyngeal cancer among female textile workers in Shanghai, China

Aims

To investigate whether occupational exposure to dusts and chemicals in the Chinese textile industry are associated with risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Methods

Sixty seven nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cases identified during 1989–98 and a random sample (n = 3188) of women were included in a case cohort study nested in a cohort of 267 400 women textile workers in Shanghai, China. A complete occupational history of work in the textile industry was obtained for each woman. A job exposure matrix developed by experienced industrial hygienists was used to assess exposures to specific dusts and chemicals.

Results

Risk of NPC is associated with cumulative exposure to cotton dust. The hazard ratio for women cumulatively exposed to >143.4 mg/m³ × years of cotton dust was 3.6 (95% CI 1.8 to 7.2) compared with unexposed women. Trends of increasing risk were also found with increasing duration of exposure to acids and caustics (p = 0.05), and with years worked in dyeing processes (p = 0.06). Women who worked at least 10 years in dyeing processes had a 3.6‐fold excess risk of NPC (95% CI 1.0 to 12.1).

Conclusions

Occupational exposure to cotton dust, acids, and caustics, and work in dyeing and printing jobs in the textile industry may have increased risk of NPC in this cohort.     

Ventilatory function of workers exposed to cobalt and diamond containing dust

Summary The ventilatory function of 48 workers occupied on the average for six years in a plant producing diamond-cobalt circular saws was compared with that of 23 control subjects. The geometric mean airborne cobalt concentrations in the two main work areas amounted to 15.2 and 135.5 g/m³ respectively. The spirometric changes found in the exposed workers were compatible with a moderate restrictive syndrome and were correlated with duration of exposure.     

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in mill workers exposed to wood dust

This study surveyed wood dust exposure levels and pulmonary hazards among wood mill workers. Dust concentrations as measured by six-stage cascade impactors were high in work areas of grinding and screening. Total dust concentrations for these dusty activities ranged from 4.4 to 22.4 mg/m³, and the respirable proportions were between 2.4% and 50.2%. The dust level in the sawing work was 2.9 mg/m³. Although symptoms of cough and phlegm were higher in smoking workers than in nonsmoking workers, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the exposed workers was not significantly higher than in the controls. However, the incidence of symptoms such as chronic phlegm and chronic bronchitis in the nonsmoking high-exposure workers was significantly higher than in nonsmoking controls. The mean values of MMF, PEFR, and FEF25% were significantly lower in the exposed workers than in controls for both smokers and nonsmokers. The pulmonary function deficits, with the exception of FEV1.0/FVC, also showed a significant trend with increasing levels of wood dusts exposure classified by job titles for both smokers and nonsmokers. After adjustment for age, sex, height, and smoking status, all parameters of pulmonary function were significantly lower in exposed workers than in controls and showed a declining trend with increasing exposure levels classified by job titles. These results indicate that high level of wood dust exposure in the wood mill industries may lead to pulmonary hazards. Engineering control and industrial hygiene are mandatory for dusty activities. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Occupational risk factors for pancreatic cancer among female textile workers in Shanghai, China

ObjectivesTo investigate whether occupational exposures to dusts and chemicals in the Shanghai textile industry are associated with risk of pancreatic cancer.MethodsA case cohort study nested in a cohort of 267 400 female textile workers in Shanghai, China was conducted among 180 incident pancreatic cancer cases and an age stratified randomly selected comparison subcohort (n = 3188). A complete occupational history of work in the textile industry was obtained for each woman, and was linked to a job exposure matrix developed for the textile industry to estimate exposures to specific dusts and chemicals. Cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin were reconstructed from historical and contemporaneous measurements.ResultsAfter adjusting for smoking status, a trend of decreasing risk of pancreatic cancer was observed for increasing cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin with a lag of 20 years. The hazard ratios for women cumulatively exposed to >143.4 mg/m³× years of cotton dust and >3530.6 EU/m³× years of endotoxin were 0.6 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9), respectively, compared to unexposed women. There was little evidence that exposures to other textile dusts and chemicals were associated with risk of pancreatic cancer.ConclusionsOccupational exposure to cotton dust and endotoxin in the textile industry may have reduced risks of pancreatic cancer in this cohort. These associations should be replicated by others before making a firm conclusion of their possible effects on pancreatic cancer.     

Blood superoxide dismutase and plasma malondialdehyde among workers exposed to asbestos

Blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (an indicator of lipid peroxidation [LPO]) were determined in 97 randomly selected asbestos exposed workers (age range: 25–60 years, mean duration of exposures 19.8 ± 8.3 years) and in 42 healthy male controls. MDA, SOD, and MDA/SOD ratio in asbestos exposed workers were significantly higher than in controls. Among both the controls and exposed workers neither age nor smoking was related to SOD or MDA levels. SOD was significantly positively correlated with MDA among the exposed workers. Such correlation was not observed among the controls. SOD but not MDA was significantly positively correlated with the duration of exposure to asbestos. Mean levels of SOD or MDA in exposed workers with radiographic signs of lung fibrosis or pleural thickening did not differ significantly from those without such signs. The results confirm the possible involvement of LPO and development of anti-oxidant mechanism(s) of prolonged exposure to asbestos in humans. However, SOD seems not to be the essential anti-asbestos-induced LPO. Relation between these factors and lung fibrosis is still unclear.     

棉纺女工呼吸系统损害的调查研究

目的 探讨棉尘对棉纺女工呼吸系统的损害。方法 对棉纺厂各车间工序进行劳动卫生学和空气中细菌、真菌污染状况调查,并对302名棉纺女工及64名对照女工呼吸系统症状进行询问调查、X线胸片检查及班前班后肺功能的测定。结果 棉纺各车间工序空气中微生物污染严重,尤以前纺车间为重。接尘女工呼吸系统症状阳性率均显著高于对照女工（P＜0．01）,86名棉纺女工中X线胸片异常者20例,占拍片人数的23．3％。肺功能FVC、FEV1.0、FEE25～75各指标班前班后下降值均较对照组明显。接尘女工肺功能FEV1.0异常急性改变率为52．2％,对照女工为9．4％,差异有显著性（P＜0．01）。前纺车间女工呼吸系统症状阳性率及肺功能FEV1.0异常急性改变率明显高于络筒和织布车间。结论 棉纺女工出现呼吸系统症状阳性率增高及肺功能急性下降,可能与车间空气中微生物污染程度有关。     

棉纺织产业系统粉尘治理实验研究

棉纺织生产过程中产生的棉尘采取“卧式圆笼除尘器”通风防尘系统后，效果显著，工人作业现场空气中的粉尘浓度低于最高容许浓度（ＭＡＣ）。经评价认为，“圆笼除尘器”的研制成功，改变了过去防尘措施效率低、效果差，造成二次污染的状况，可有效地控制粉尘，其结构简单，有推广价值。测定结果表明，不使用通风防尘系统时，粉尘点合格率为零，使用后，合格率为１００％。“圆笼除尘器”的净化效率能满足环境保护的要求，不造成二次污染。     

Follow-up study of respiratory health of newly-hired female cotton textile workers

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have investigated adverse effects of exposure to cotton dust on respiratory health, but very limited longitudinal data are available with regard to the early pulmonary response to cotton dust. Moreover, the adverse effects of occupational exposure to cotton dust have been difficult to separate from the confounding effects of smoking. This setting provided a unique opportunity to evaluate early respiratory effects in newly hired and non-smoking female textile workers. METHODS: To identify early pulmonary responses to cotton dust exposure and associated gram-negative bacterial endotoxin, respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in 225 newly-hired textile workers were assessed at work initiation, and at three and twelve months later. RESULTS: All the workers were females and nonsmokers, with an average age of 18 years. Symptom incidence at three months was 3.6% for usual cough with phlegm, and 6.7% for usual dry cough. Lung function changes were detectable at one year: FEV1 declined by 70 ml and FVC by 124 ml over the year, and workers reporting respiratory symptoms at three months showed a significantly greater cross-shift drop in FEV1 (- 2.3%) than those without the symptoms (- 0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the occurrence of respiratory symptoms represents the earliest response to cotton dust exposure, followed by lung function changes. Early respiratory symptoms may be a risk factor for subsequent loss of pulmonary function in cotton textile workers.     

Predictors of early leaving from the cotton spinning mill environment in newly hired workers

Objective

This longitudinal study aimed to identify the predictors of leaving during the first year of employment from the cotton spinning mill environment in newly hired workers.

Methods

One hundred and ninety eight consecutively appointed new employees were investigated by questionnaire, lung function test, and skin test. They were examined before employment and at the end of the 1st week, and the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after starting work and when possible before leaving their job. 572 personal dust sampling and 191 endotoxin measurements were performed to assess the environmental exposure. For the univariate analysis χ², Student t tests, ANOVA, and Kruskall Wallis tests were used. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify factors associated with leaving the job.

Results

Fifty three per cent of workers left the mill environment during their first working year. Work related lower respiratory tract symptoms reported at the third month were associated with an increase rate of leaving the industry compared to those remaining in the industry (25% v 4.8%; p<0.005). Having respiratory symptoms at the first month of work predicted those leaving the industry at some point in the next 11 months. According to the Cox model, increasing age and having work related lower respiratory tract symptoms were found to be predictors for leaving job at the first working year. Atopic status, dust and endotoxin levels, and lung function changes were not consistently predictive of workers who left the industry in the follow up period.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that work related respiratory symptoms can predict workers likely to leave the cotton mill environment during the first year of employment, but atopy or acute lung function changes do not.     

Pulmonary function and intradermal tests in workers exposed to soft-paper dust

A survey was carried out in the processing department of a paper mill, consisting of environmental and personal monitoring, a short questionnaire concerning chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD), spirometry, and intradermal tests. Spirometry was performed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Exposures to paper dust regularly exceeded the Dutch Maximal Allowable Concentrations (MACs) for total and respirable dust. There were indications of a qualitatively different exposure to molds inside the mill in comparison with the outdoor air. A comparison between a group of workers exposed to paper dust and a control group showed significantly more persons with positive late and delayed intradermal test reactions in the exposed population. The analysis of the spirometric measurements after correction for differences between the groups in age, height, and smoking habits gave evidence of the existence of lower FEV1, MMEF, MEF50, and MEF25 among exposed workers with a positive immediate intradermal reaction on Friday. The same workers showed a decline in pulmonary function over the week compared with the controls. These changes suggest an obstructive airway reaction with an immunologic mechanism to dust exposure in a paper mill.     

Humoral immune responses of workers occupationally exposed to wheat flour

Wheat flour is a complex organic dust likely to induce immune responses when inhaled in work environment conditions. We compared the humoral status of 159 exposed workers from 11 flour mills and one industrial bakery with that of 41 workers from a salt factory. IgG, IgA, and IgM levels of antibodies to whole flour and to gliadin were assayed using ELISA tests in serum and saliva samples. Serum levels of IgG and IgA to both antigens were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in occupationally exposed workers. Exposed workers had significantly higher levels of salivary IgG (p = 0.005) and IgA (p < 0.0001) to whole flour and of salivary IgG (p = 0.0005) to gliadin. In both groups, similar levels of anti-gliadin salivary IgA antibodies were observed. These data suggest that occupational exposure to wheat flour triggers specific immune responses, most likely through stimulation of the mucosal immune system. The presence of significant levels of serum antibodies, however, indicates that a systemic immunologic response is also present among exposed individuals.     

Follicle-stimulating hormone levels in female workers exposed to urban pollutants

The aim of this study was to evaluate if there were alterations in FSH plasma levels in female outdoor workers (traffic policewomen and drivers) exposed to chemical urban stressors vs. control group. After excluding subjects with main confounding factors, traffic policewomen, drivers and indoor workers were matched by age, working life, socioeconomic status, marital status, menstrual cycle day, age of menarche, habitual consumption of Italian coffee and soy. A total of 129 female subjects were included in the study: some 63 workers studied during proliferative phase and 66 during secretory phase of menstrual cycle. Proliferative phase of menstrual cycle: FSH mean values were significantly higher in traffic policewomen compared to controls (p < 0.05). Results suggest that in outdoor workers exposed to urban chemical stressors there are alterations in FSH levels; therefore FSH may be used as an early biological marker, valuable for the group, used in occupational set.     

某棉纺厂噪声作业人员心电图的调查分析

噪声对人们的身体健康所造成的损害已受到有关各方面的重视 ,为了解噪声作业对工人心电图的影响 ,我们对某棉纺厂接触噪声作业的 2 15名工人做心电图检查 ,现将结果报告如下。1　对象与方法1 1　对象　该厂接触噪声作业工龄 1a以上 ,年龄 2 0～ 40岁的2 15名 (男 45名 ,女 170名 ) ,工人 (接触组 ) ,平均年龄 2 8岁 ,平均工龄 7 5a。另外以非接触噪声的学校教师 2 5 0名为对照组 ,平均年龄 2 9 1岁 ,平均工龄 8 3a。噪声组与对照组年龄结构、性别比较、饮食习惯等基本相同。1 2　方法　受检人员由同 1名专业人员首先进行询问职业接触史、既…     

Altered partition of t cell subsets in the peripheral blood of healthy workers exposed to flour dust

Occupational exposure to organic compounds can induce obvious immunological disorders or more subtle modifications. We investigated peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in 34 bakers and 82 millers exposed to wheat flour dust, and 51 salt factory workers. Significantly decreased levels of CD4 +, CD8 +, CD57 + and CD8 + /57 + cells were noted in mill workers, and of CD57+ cells in bakers. CD29 + and CD4 + /CD29 + cells were significantly lower in millers, CD4 + /CD45RA + cells higher in all exposed workers. The lower numbers of positive cells noted in millers appeared associated to significantly higher (p<0.001) levels of CD29 and CD45RA expression as measured by fluorescence intensity. These data are opposite to those previously reported in asthmatic workers exposed to flour dust. Since the individuals tested here were clinically healthy, the alterations of T-cell subsets observed could be interpreted as a successful attempt at immunoregulation maintaining homeostasis.     

Pulmonary function and morbidity in textile mill workers.

The study was conducted in a large cotton textile mill in Surat City. A selected number of 278 employees were evaluated for social, anthropological and pulmonary functions. No parameters except the period of exposure to dust reduced pulmonary function; it was statistically significant in the case of vital capacity and maximum breathing capacity. Out of 23.94% pulmonary morbidity observed, the byssinosis rate was 1.62.     

Genotoxic effects in workers exposed to low levels of benzene from gasoline

To study genotoxic effects of exposure to low levels of benzene, single-strand breaks (SSB) in DNA of leukocytes and urinary levels of the oxidative DNA adduct 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (80HdG) were determined in 33 men occupationally exposed to benzene from gasoline and in 33 controls. The average exposure to benzene over a shift was determined by personal air sampling in the breathing zone. The 8-hr time-weighted average exposure to benzene was 0.13 ppm (mean value, range 0.003–0.6 ppm). Exposed workers had a significant increase of SSB (p = 0.04) over the shift compared with controls. Storage time of the samples seemed to affect the results. An analysis of samples with the same storage time showed a nonsignificant increase among the workers compared with controls. Urinary 80HdG increased over the shift among the exposed workers but not among the controls. The highest values among the exposed workers were seen in late evening, with a slight decrease the next morning. Multiple linear analysis adjusting for smoking habits showed a significant association between the exposure level of benzene during the shift and the increase of 80HdG in the urine over the shift among exposed workers (p = 0.02). These findings indicate a genotoxic effect in humans of benzene at relatively low exposure levels, that is, about 0.1 ppm (0.3 mg/m³). © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

某纺织厂浆料作业工人皮炎病例调查

通过对136例皮炎病例的调查,发现病因可能与丙烯酸酯、氨气有关。治疗以脱敏为主。