1
|
Höper AC, Kirkeleit J, Thomassen MR, Irgens-Hansen K, Hollund BE, Fagernæs CF, Svedahl SR, Eriksen TE, Grgic M, Bang BE. Effects of Interventions to Prevent Work-Related Asthma, Allergy, and Other Hypersensitivity Reactions in Norwegian Salmon Industry Workers (SHInE): Protocol for a Pragmatic Allocated Intervention Trial and Related Substudies. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e48790. [PMID: 37467018 PMCID: PMC10398556 DOI: 10.2196/48790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Workers in the salmon processing industry have an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases and other hypersensitivity responses due to occupational exposure to bioaerosols containing fish proteins and microorganisms, and related allergens. Little is known about effective measures to reduce bioaerosol exposure and about the extent of skin complaints among workers. In addition, while identification of risk factors is a core activity in disease prevention strategies, there is increasing interest in health-promoting factors, which is an understudied area in the salmon processing industry. OBJECTIVE The overall aim of this ongoing study is to generate knowledge that can be used in tailored prevention of development or chronification of respiratory diseases, skin reactions, protein contact dermatitis, and allergy among salmon processing workers. The main objective is to identify effective methods to reduce bioaerosol exposure. Further objectives are to identify and characterize clinically relevant exposure agents, identify determinants of exposure, measure prevalence of work-related symptoms and disease, and identify health-promoting factors of the psychosocial work environment. METHODS Data are collected during field studies in 9 salmon processing plants along the Norwegian coastline. Data collection comprises exposure measurements, health examinations, and questionnaires. A wide range of laboratory analyses will be used for further analysis and characterization of exposure agents. Suitable statistical analysis will be applied to the various outcomes of this comprehensive study. RESULTS Data collection started in September 2021 and was anticipated to be completed by March 2023, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline data from all 9 plants included 673 participants for the health examinations and a total of 869 personal exposure measurements. A total of 740 workers answered the study's main questionnaire on demographics, job characteristics, lifestyle, health, and health-promoting factors. Follow-up data collection is not completed yet. CONCLUSIONS This study will contribute to filling knowledge gaps concerning salmon workers' work environment. This includes effective workplace measures for bioaerosol exposure reduction, increased knowledge on hypersensitivity, allergy, respiratory and dermal health, as well as health-promoting workplace factors. Together this will give a basis for improving the work environment, preventing occupational health-related diseases, and developing occupational exposure limits, which in turn will benefit employees, employers, occupational health services, researchers, clinicians, decision makers, and other stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05039229; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05039229. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/48790.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anje Christina Höper
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jorunn Kirkeleit
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Marte Renate Thomassen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kaja Irgens-Hansen
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Bjørg Eli Hollund
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Carl Fredrik Fagernæs
- Department of Occupational Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sindre Rabben Svedahl
- Department of Occupational Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Thor Eirik Eriksen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Miriam Grgic
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Berit Elisabeth Bang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Heidelberg CT, Bang B, Thomassen MR, Kamath SD, Ruethers T, Lopata AL, Madsen AM, Sandsund M, Aasmoe L. Exposure to Bioaerosols During Fish Processing on Board Norwegian Fishing Trawlers. Ann Work Expo Health 2021; 65:694-702. [PMID: 34109979 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The main objective was to gain more knowledge on exposure to bioaerosols in the processing area on board fishing trawlers. METHODS Exposure sampling was carried out during the work shifts when processing fish in the processing area on board five deep-sea fishing trawlers (trawlers 1-5). Exposure samples were collected from 64 fishermen breathing zone and from stationary sampling stations on board five deep-sea fishing trawlers (1-5). Trawlers 2, 3, and 4 were old ships, not originally built for on board processing of the catch. Trawlers 1 and 5 were relatively new and built to accommodate processing machineries. On trawlers 1-4 round fish was produced; the head and entrails were removed before the fishes were frozen in blocks. Trawler 5 had the most extensive processing, producing fish fillets. Samples were analysed for total protein, trypsin activity, parvalbumin, and endotoxin. One side analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used to compare levels of exposure on the different trawlers. RESULTS Personal exposure to total protein were higher on the three oldest trawlers (2, 3, and 4) compared with the two new trawlers (1 and 5). Highest activity of trypsin was detected on the four trawlers producing round fish (1-4). Parvalbumin was detected in 58% of samples from the fillet-trawler (5) compared with 13% of samples from the four trawlers producing round fish. The highest level of endotoxin was detected when using high-pressure water during cleaning machines and floors in the processing area. CONCLUSIONS Fishermen in the processing area on board Norwegian trawlers are exposed to airborne bioaerosols as proteins, trypsin, fish allergen parvalbumin, and endotoxin. Levels varied between trawlers and type of production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie T Heidelberg
- University Hospital of North Norway, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sykehusveien, Tromsoe, Norway.,UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hansine Hansens veg 18, Tromsoe, Norway
| | - Berit Bang
- University Hospital of North Norway, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sykehusveien, Tromsoe, Norway.,UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hansine Hansens veg 18, Tromsoe, Norway
| | - Marte R Thomassen
- University Hospital of North Norway, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sykehusveien, Tromsoe, Norway
| | - Sandip D Kamath
- James Cook University, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Townsville, Australia
| | - Thimo Ruethers
- James Cook University, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Townsville, Australia
| | - Andreas L Lopata
- James Cook University, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Townsville, Australia
| | - Anne M Madsen
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lerso Parkallé, Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Mariann Sandsund
- SINTEF Digital, Department of Health Research, Professor Brochs gt., Trondheim, Norway
| | - Lisbeth Aasmoe
- University Hospital of North Norway, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sykehusveien, Tromsoe, Norway.,UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hansine Hansens veg 18, Tromsoe, Norway
| |
Collapse
|