Respiratory inflammation among workers exposed to airborne dust with endotoxins in a coffee curing factory.
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Date
2012-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
Abstract
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/m3, and endotoxin levels ranged from 42 to 75,083 endotoxin units/m3. 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.
Description
Keywords
Airborne, Endotoxins, Respiratory inflammation
Citation
Moen, B.E., Sakwari, G., Mamuya, S.H., Kayumba, A.V., Larsson, L., Pehrson, C., Mashalla, Y.J. and Bråtveit, M., 2012. Respiratory inflammation among workers exposed to airborne dust with endotoxins in a coffee curing factory. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 54(7), pp.847-850.