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Rasmussen PU, Frederiksen MW, Carøe TK, Madsen AM. Health symptoms, inflammation, and bioaerosol exposure in workers at biowaste pretreatment plants. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 167:173-182. [PMID: 37269581 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Biowaste pretreatment plants have been built within the last years in Denmark in order to recycle pre-sorted biowaste from houses, restaurants, and industry. We investigated the association between exposure and health at six biowaste pretreatment plants (visited twice) across Denmark. We measured the personal bioaerosol exposure, took blood samples, and administered a questionnaire. Thirty-one persons participated, 17 of them twice, resulting in 45 bioaerosol samples, 40 blood samples, and questionnaire answers from 21 persons. We measured exposure to bacteria, fungi, dust, and endotoxin, the total inflammatory potential of the exposures, and serum levels of the inflammatory markers serum amyloid A (SAA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and human club cell protein (CC16). Higher exposures to fungi and endotoxin were found for workers with tasks inside the production area compared to workers with main tasks in the office area. A positive association was found between the concentration of anaerobic bacteria and hsCRP and SAA, whereas bacteria and endotoxin were inversely associated with hsCRP and SAA. A positive association between hsCRP and the fungal species Penicillium digitatum and P. camemberti were found, whereas an inverse association between hsCRP and Aspergillus niger and P. italicum were found. Staff with tasks inside the production area reported more symptoms of the nose than those working in the office area. To conclude, our results indicate that workers with tasks inside the production area are exposed to elevated levels of bioaerosols, and that this may affect workers' health negatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pil Uthaug Rasmussen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Margit W Frederiksen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Tanja K Carøe
- Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, Holbæk Hospital, Smedelundsgade 60, 4300 Holbæk, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
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What should be tested in patients with suspected mold exposure? Usefulness of serological markers for the diagnosis. Allergol Select 2022; 6:118-132. [PMID: 35392215 PMCID: PMC8982061 DOI: 10.5414/alx02298e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The associations of mold exposure, IgE-mediated sensitization, inflammatory markers, and respiratory symptoms were analyzed in 46 exposed and 23 non-exposed individuals. Both exposure and clinical symptoms were assessed by questionnaire. Specific (s)IgE to mold mixture (mx1) was significantly higher and found more frequently in exposed (41%) than non-exposed individuals (17%), which was not observed for sIgG to mold mix (Gmx6). Notably, exposed asthmatics were more frequently sensitized to molds (55%) compared to exposed non-asthmatics (18%). In addition, the serum concentrations of club cell protein (CC16) were significantly lower in exposed subjects, especially in asthmatics. Positive associations were observed among mold sensitization, asthma, and mold exposure, but not in subjects with predominantly environmental sensitizations without mold sensitization. Thus, sIgE to mx1 but not sIgG to Gmx6 is a useful diagnostic marker to verify mold-associated respiratory symptoms.
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Respiratory Health and Inflammatory Markers-Exposure to Cobalt in the Swedish Hard Metal Industry. J Occup Environ Med 2021; 62:820-829. [PMID: 33009343 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000001952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the relationship between inhalable dust and cobalt, and respiratory symptoms, lung function, exhaled nitric oxide in expired air, and CC16 in the Swedish hard metal industry. METHODS Personal sampling of inhalable dust and cobalt, and medical examination including blood sampling was performed for 72 workers. Exposure-response relationships were determined using logistic, linear, and mixed-model analysis. RESULTS The average inhalable dust and cobalt concentrations were 0.079 and 0.0017 mg/m, respectively. Statistically significant increased serum levels of CC16 were determined when the high and low cumulative exposures for cobalt were compared. Nonsignificant exposure-response relationships were observed between cross-shift inhalable dust or cobalt exposures and asthma, nose dripping, and bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest an exposure-response relationship between inhalable cumulative cobalt exposure and CC16 levels in blood, which may reflect an injury or a reparation process in the lungs.
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Straumfors A, Mundra S, Foss OAH, Mollerup SK, Kauserud H. The airborne mycobiome and associations with mycotoxins and inflammatory markers in the Norwegian grain industry. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9357. [PMID: 33931660 PMCID: PMC8087811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88252-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Grain dust exposure is associated with respiratory symptoms among grain industry workers. However, the fungal assemblage that contribute to airborne grain dust has been poorly studied. We characterized the airborne fungal diversity at industrial grain- and animal feed mills, and identified differences in diversity, taxonomic compositions and community structural patterns between seasons and climatic zones. The fungal communities displayed strong variation between seasons and climatic zones, with 46% and 21% of OTUs shared between different seasons and climatic zones, respectively. The highest species richness was observed in the humid continental climate of the southeastern Norway, followed by the continental subarctic climate of the eastern inland with dryer, short summers and snowy winters, and the central coastal Norway with short growth season and lower temperature. The richness did not vary between seasons. The fungal diversity correlated with some specific mycotoxins in settled dust and with fibrinogen in the blood of exposed workers, but not with the personal exposure measurements of dust, glucans or spore counts. The study contributes to a better understanding of fungal exposures in the grain and animal feed industry. The differences in diversity suggest that the potential health effects of fungal inhalation may also be different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Straumfors
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Sunil Mundra
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Oda A H Foss
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steen K Mollerup
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Håvard Kauserud
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Straumfors A, Duale N, Foss OAH, Mollerup S. Circulating miRNAs as molecular markers of occupational grain dust exposure. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11317. [PMID: 32647120 PMCID: PMC7347934 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68296-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dust from grain and feed production may cause adverse health effects in exposed workers. In this study we explored circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers of occupational grain dust exposure. Twenty-two serum miRNAs were analyzed in 44 grain dust exposed workers and 22 controls. Exposed workers had significantly upregulated miR-18a-5p, miR-124-3p and miR-574-3p, and downregulated miR-19b-3p and miR-146a-5p, compared to controls. Putative target genes for the differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in a range of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signaling pathways, and ‘Pathways in cancer’ and ‘Wnt signaling pathway’ were common for all the five miRNAs. MiRNA-diseases association analysis showed a link between the five identified miRNAs and several lung diseases terms. A positive correlation between miR-124-3p, miR-18a-5p, and miR-574-3p and IL-6 protein level was shown, while miR-19b-3p was inversely correlated with CC-16 and sCD40L protein levels. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis of the five miRNA showed that three miRNAs (miR-574-3p, miR-124-3p and miR-18a-5p) could distinguish the grain dust exposed group from the control group, with miR-574-3p as the strongest predictor of grain dust exposure. In conclusion, this study identified five signature miRNAs as potential novel biomarkers of grain dust exposure that may have potential as early disease markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Straumfors
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas vei 8, PO Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Nur Duale
- Department of Molecular Biology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222, 0213, Skøyen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oda A H Foss
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas vei 8, PO Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steen Mollerup
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas vei 8, PO Box 5330, 0304, Majorstuen, Oslo, Norway
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Andersson L, Bryngelsson IL, Hedbrant A, Persson A, Johansson A, Ericsson A, Lindell I, Stockfelt L, Särndahl E, Westberg H. Respiratory health and inflammatory markers - Exposure to respirable dust and quartz and chemical binders in Swedish iron foundries. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224668. [PMID: 31675355 PMCID: PMC6824619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To study the relationship between respirable dust, quartz and chemical binders in Swedish iron foundries and respiratory symptoms, lung function (as forced expiratory volume FEV1 and vital capacity FVC), fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and levels of club cell secretory protein 16 (CC16) and CRP. Methods Personal sampling of respirable dust and quartz was performed for 85 subjects in three Swedish iron foundries. Full shift sampling and examination were performed on the second or third day of a working week after a work free weekend, with additional sampling on the fourth or fifth day. Logistic, linear and mixed model analyses were performed including, gender, age, smoking, infections, sampling day, body mass index (BMI) and chemical binders as covariates. Results The adjusted average respirable quartz and dust concentrations were 0.038 and 0.66 mg/m3, respectively. Statistically significant increases in levels of CC16 were associated with exposure to chemical binders (p = 0.05; p = 0.01) in the regression analysis of quartz and respirable dust, respectively. Non-significant exposure-responses were identified for cumulative quartz and the symptoms asthma and breathlessness. For cumulative chemical years, non-significant exposure–response were observed for all but two symptoms. FENO also exhibited a non significant exposure-response for both quartz and respirable dust. No exposure-response was determined for FEV1 or FVC, CRP and respirable dust and quartz. Conclusions Our findings suggest that early markers of pulmonary effect, such as increased levels of CC16 and FENO, are more strongly associated with chemical binder exposure than respirable quartz and dust in foundry environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Andersson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Ing-Liss Bryngelsson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Alexander Hedbrant
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Alexander Persson
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anders Johansson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Annette Ericsson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Ina Lindell
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Leo Stockfelt
- Unit of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva Särndahl
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Håkan Westberg
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Heldal KK, Austigard ÅD, Svendsen KH, Einarsdottir E, Goffeng LO, Sikkeland LI, Nordby KC. Endotoxin and Hydrogen Sulphide Exposure and Effects on the Airways Among Waste Water Workers in Sewage Treatment Plants and Sewer Net System. Ann Work Expo Health 2019; 63:437-447. [DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxz020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kari K Heldal
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åse D Austigard
- Municipality of Trondheim, Working Environment Office, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kristin H Svendsen
- Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Elin Einarsdottir
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Ole Goffeng
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Liv Ingun Sikkeland
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karl-Christian Nordby
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
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