Health effects of exposure to organic dust in workers of a modern hatchery

• Autorzy: Skorska C. , Mackiewicz B. , Golec M. , Cholewa G. , Chmielowiec-Korzeniowska A. , Dutkiewicz J.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The aim of the presented study was to determine the health status of workers occupationally exposed to moderate amounts of organic dust, employed in a modern hatchery with an effi cient ventilation system. A group of 32 hatchery workers was examined. As a reference group, 50 urban dwellers not exposed to any kind of organic dust were examined. All people were interviewed for the presence of work-related symptoms and subjected to physical and spirometric examinations. Blood sera were examined for the presence of precipitins against 13 antigens associated with organic dust, and for the presence of total and chicken-specifi c No signifi cant differences were found between the spirometric values in the group of hatchery workers and the reference group. Positive precipitin reactions were noted mostly with the antigens of Gram-negative bacteria associated with organic dust. The frequencies of positive reactions to antigens of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii in hatchery workers were signifi cantly greater compared to the reference group (p<0.05). Precipitin reactions to Gram-positive non-branching bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and bird protein, were rare or absent. The mean concentration of total IgE in sera of hatchery workers was nearly 3 times greater compared to the reference group, and the difference proved to be statistically signifi cant (p<0.05). No specifi c IgE antibodies against chicken feathers were detected in the blood of hatchery workers and referents. In conclusion, the examined hatchery workers showed a moderate frequency of work-related symptoms, no decline in lung function and low reactivity to most microbial and bird protein allergens. These results suggest that the effects of exposure to organic dust in workers of modern hatcheries with an effi cient ventilation system are less compared to the workers of poultry farms, such as broiler or egg laying houses.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

occupational exposure; poultry farm; egg laying house; work-related symptom; organic dust; allergy; dust; hatchery worker

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
• Rocznik: 2007
• Tom: 14
• Numer: 2
• Opis fizyczny: p.341-345,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Skorska C.

• Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

autor

Mackiewicz B.

autor

Golec M.

autor

Cholewa G.

autor

Chmielowiec-Korzeniowska A.

autor

Dutkiewicz J.

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