Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers: A study of recycling workers

Karoline Kærgaard Hansen; Vivi Schlünssen; Karin Broberg; Kirsten Østergaard; Margit W. Frederiksen; Torben Sigsgaard; Anne Mette Madsen; Henrik Albert Kolstad

doi:10.5271/sjweh.4187

Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers: A study of recycling workers

Karoline Kærgaard Hansen^*, Vivi Schlünssen, Karin Broberg, Kirsten Østergaard, Margit W. Frederiksen, Torben Sigsgaard, Anne Mette Madsen, Henrik Albert Kolstad

^*Corresponding author for this work

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3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective We investigated associations between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift changes in lung function and inflammatory markers among recycling workers. Methods Inhalable dust was measured with personal samplers and analyzed for endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (incubated at 25 °C and 37 °C) levels. Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was measured before and after work-shifts and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CC16, IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and TNF) after the shift. Associations were explored by linear mixed-effects models. Results We included 170 measurements from 88 production workers exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (25 °C and 37 °C) at geometric mean levels of 0.6 mg/m³, 10.7 EU/m³, 1.6×10⁴ CFU/m³, 4.4×10⁴ CFU/m³, and 10³ CFU/m³, respectively, and 14 administrative workers exposed at 7-fold lower levels. No associations were observed between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift change in lung function. IL2, IL6, IL10, and TNF concentrations were positively associated with inhalable dust levels, SAA and IL6 with bacteria, CRP, SAA, IL8, and TNF with fungi (25 °C or 37 °C), with the latter being the only statistically significant find-ing (exp(β) 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.96). Conclusions This study of recycling workers exposed to bioaerosol levels generally below those of farmers and compost workers and above background levels did not indicate any acute effect on lung function. Several inflammatory markers tended to increase with exposure, suggesting a systemic effect. Future research should combine data from bioaerosol-exposed workers to uncover health risks that may form the basis for health-based occupational exposure limits.

Original language	English
Journal	Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Volume	50
Issue	8
Pages (from-to)	602-612
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0355-3140
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4187
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2024

Keywords

bacteria
domestic waste
endotoxin
fungi
inhalable dust

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@article{8a1b8347f19c48fab4bec0967efe528f,

title = "Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers: A study of recycling workers",

abstract = "Objective We investigated associations between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift changes in lung function and inflammatory markers among recycling workers. Methods Inhalable dust was measured with personal samplers and analyzed for endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (incubated at 25 °C and 37 °C) levels. Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was measured before and after work-shifts and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CC16, IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and TNF) after the shift. Associations were explored by linear mixed-effects models. Results We included 170 measurements from 88 production workers exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (25 °C and 37 °C) at geometric mean levels of 0.6 mg/m3, 10.7 EU/m3, 1.6×104 CFU/m3, 4.4×104 CFU/m3, and 103 CFU/m3, respectively, and 14 administrative workers exposed at 7-fold lower levels. No associations were observed between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift change in lung function. IL2, IL6, IL10, and TNF concentrations were positively associated with inhalable dust levels, SAA and IL6 with bacteria, CRP, SAA, IL8, and TNF with fungi (25 °C or 37 °C), with the latter being the only statistically significant find-ing (exp(β) 1.40, 95\% confidence interval 1.01–1.96). Conclusions This study of recycling workers exposed to bioaerosol levels generally below those of farmers and compost workers and above background levels did not indicate any acute effect on lung function. Several inflammatory markers tended to increase with exposure, suggesting a systemic effect. Future research should combine data from bioaerosol-exposed workers to uncover health risks that may form the basis for health-based occupational exposure limits.",

keywords = "bacteria, domestic waste, endotoxin, fungi, inhalable dust",

author = "Hansen, \{Karoline K{\ae}rgaard\} and Vivi Schl{\"u}nssen and Karin Broberg and Kirsten {\O}stergaard and Frederiksen, \{Margit W.\} and Torben Sigsgaard and Madsen, \{Anne Mette\} and Kolstad, \{Henrik Albert\}",

year = "2024",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.5271/sjweh.4187",

language = "English",

volume = "50",

pages = "602--612",

journal = "Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health",

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publisher = "Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health",

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Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers: A study of recycling workers. / Hansen, Karoline Kærgaard ; Schlünssen, Vivi; Broberg, Karin et al.
In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, Vol. 50, No. 8, 01.12.2024, p. 602-612.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers

T2 - A study of recycling workers

AU - Hansen, Karoline Kærgaard

AU - Schlünssen, Vivi

AU - Broberg, Karin

AU - Østergaard, Kirsten

AU - Frederiksen, Margit W.

AU - Sigsgaard, Torben

AU - Madsen, Anne Mette

AU - Kolstad, Henrik Albert

PY - 2024/12/1

Y1 - 2024/12/1

N2 - Objective We investigated associations between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift changes in lung function and inflammatory markers among recycling workers. Methods Inhalable dust was measured with personal samplers and analyzed for endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (incubated at 25 °C and 37 °C) levels. Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was measured before and after work-shifts and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CC16, IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and TNF) after the shift. Associations were explored by linear mixed-effects models. Results We included 170 measurements from 88 production workers exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (25 °C and 37 °C) at geometric mean levels of 0.6 mg/m3, 10.7 EU/m3, 1.6×104 CFU/m3, 4.4×104 CFU/m3, and 103 CFU/m3, respectively, and 14 administrative workers exposed at 7-fold lower levels. No associations were observed between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift change in lung function. IL2, IL6, IL10, and TNF concentrations were positively associated with inhalable dust levels, SAA and IL6 with bacteria, CRP, SAA, IL8, and TNF with fungi (25 °C or 37 °C), with the latter being the only statistically significant find-ing (exp(β) 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.96). Conclusions This study of recycling workers exposed to bioaerosol levels generally below those of farmers and compost workers and above background levels did not indicate any acute effect on lung function. Several inflammatory markers tended to increase with exposure, suggesting a systemic effect. Future research should combine data from bioaerosol-exposed workers to uncover health risks that may form the basis for health-based occupational exposure limits.

AB - Objective We investigated associations between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift changes in lung function and inflammatory markers among recycling workers. Methods Inhalable dust was measured with personal samplers and analyzed for endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (incubated at 25 °C and 37 °C) levels. Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was measured before and after work-shifts and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CC16, IL1B, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, and TNF) after the shift. Associations were explored by linear mixed-effects models. Results We included 170 measurements from 88 production workers exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi (25 °C and 37 °C) at geometric mean levels of 0.6 mg/m3, 10.7 EU/m3, 1.6×104 CFU/m3, 4.4×104 CFU/m3, and 103 CFU/m3, respectively, and 14 administrative workers exposed at 7-fold lower levels. No associations were observed between bioaerosol exposures and work-shift change in lung function. IL2, IL6, IL10, and TNF concentrations were positively associated with inhalable dust levels, SAA and IL6 with bacteria, CRP, SAA, IL8, and TNF with fungi (25 °C or 37 °C), with the latter being the only statistically significant find-ing (exp(β) 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.96). Conclusions This study of recycling workers exposed to bioaerosol levels generally below those of farmers and compost workers and above background levels did not indicate any acute effect on lung function. Several inflammatory markers tended to increase with exposure, suggesting a systemic effect. Future research should combine data from bioaerosol-exposed workers to uncover health risks that may form the basis for health-based occupational exposure limits.

KW - bacteria

KW - domestic waste

KW - endotoxin

KW - fungi

KW - inhalable dust

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U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.4187

DO - 10.5271/sjweh.4187

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39264251

AN - SCOPUS:85211085106

SN - 0355-3140

VL - 50

SP - 602

EP - 612

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health

IS - 8

ER -

Associations between bioaerosols, lung function work-shift changes and inflammatory markers: A study of recycling workers

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