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Exposure to bioaerosols: Allergic reactions and respiratory function in Polish hop growers
Author(s) -
Góra Anna,
Skórska Czesława,
Prażmo Zofia,
KrysińskaTraczyk Ewa,
Sitkowska Jolanta,
Dutkiewicz Jacek
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20074
Subject(s) - indoor bioaerosol , medicine , hop (telecommunications) , respiratory system , allergy , bioaerosol , occupational medicine , veterinary medicine , asthma , work shift , allergen , toxicology , zoology , immunology , environmental health , occupational exposure , biology , ecology , computer network , operations management , physics , aerosol , meteorology , computer science , economics
Background The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of work‐related symptoms in hop growers and their relation to bioaerosols exposure. The study group comprised 69 hop growers and 58 office workers as controls. The examination included: physician‐administrated questionnaire, PEF measurements, skin prick test, agar–gel precipitation test, and migration inhibition test. Microbiological air sampling was performed on all farms. Results The concentrations of total airborne microflora ranged from 2.08 to 129.6 × 10 3 CFU/m 3 . Airborne endotoxin and dust concentrations ranged from 26 to 6250 ng/m 3 and 0.2–31.7 mg/m 3 , respectively. Altogether 52.2% of farmers complained of work‐related symptoms. Positive skin reactions to microbial allergens were significantly more frequent in a group of hop growers with work‐related respiratory symptoms compared to the rest of the farmers (18% vs 2%, P < 0.05). Positive reactions in agar‐gel precipitation test and in the leukocyte migration inhibition test were not correlated with the occurrence of work‐related symptoms. The mean daily PEF values in farmers were lower compared to controls (469.7 ± 127.5 vs 562.9 ± 123.8; P < 0.001). PEF (amp%mean) was higher in farmers compared to controls (9.3% vs 8.1%; P < 0.05). Conclusion Despite relatively lower exposure to bioaerosols, compared to farmers in other branches of agriculture, over 50% of hop growers complained of work‐related symptoms. This may be partly due to the effects of microbial allergens and toxins and partly to the irritant or allergic properties of hop plant itself. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:371–374, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.