Assessment of human exposure to airborne fungi in agricultural confinements: personal inhalable sampling versus stationary sampling

• Autorzy: Adhikari A. , Reponen T. , Lee S.A. , Grinshpun S.A.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Accurate exposure assessment to airborne fungi in agricultural environments is essential for estimating the associated occupational health hazards of workers. The objective of this pilot study was to compare personal and stationary sampling for assessing farmers' exposure to airborne fungi in 3 different agricultural confinements located in Ohio, USA (hog farm, dairy farm, and grain farm), using Button Personal Inhalable Samplers. Personal exposures were measured with samplers worn by 3 subjects (each carrying 2 samplers) during 3 types of activities, including animal feeding in the hog farm, cleaning and animal handling in the dairy farm, and soybean unloading and handling in the grain farm. Simultaneously, the stationary measurements were performed using 5 static Button Samplers and 1 revolving Button Sampler. The study showed that the total concentration of airborne fungi ranged from 1.4 × 104-1.2 × 105 spores m-3 in 3 confinements. Grain unloading and handling activity generated highest concentrations of airborne fungi compared to the other 2 activities. Prevalent airborne fungi belonged to Cladosporium, Aspergillus/Penicillium, Ascospores, smut spores, Epicoccum, Alternaria, and Basidiospores. Lower coefficients of variations were observed for the fungal concentrations measured by personal samplers (7-12%) compared to the concentrations measured by stationary samplers (27-37%). No statistically significant difference was observed between the stationary and personal measurement data for the total concentrations of airborne fungi (p>0.05). Revolving stationary and static stationary Button Samplers demonstrated similar performance characteristics for the collection of airborne fungi. This reflects the low sensitivity of the sampler's efficiency to the wind speed and direction. The results indicate that personal exposure of agricultural workers in confinements may be adequately assessed by placing several Button Samplers simultaneously operating in a static stationary mode throughout the work site.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

dairy farm; grain handling; agricultural worker; agricultural confinement; risk; occupational respiratory disease; human exposure; fungi; air microbiology; airborne fungi

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
• Rocznik: 2004
• Tom: 11
• Numer: 2
• Opis fizyczny: p.269-277,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Adhikari A.

• University, of Cincinnati, 3223 Eden Avenue, PO Box 670056, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0056, USA

autor

Reponen T.

autor

Lee S.A.

autor

Grinshpun S.A.

Bibliografia

• 1. Akira M, Higashihara T, Yokoyama K, Yamamoto S, Kita N, Morimoto S, Ikezoe J, Kozuka T: Radiographic type p pneumoconiosis. High-resolution CT. Radiology 1989, 171, l17-123.
• 2. Begin R, Ostiguy G, Fillion R, Colman N: Computed tomography scan in the early detection of silicosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 1991, 144, 697-705.
• 3. Begin R, 0stiguy G, Groleau S, Filion R: Computed tomographic scanning of the thorax in workers at risk of or with silicosis. Semin Ultrasound CT & MR 1990, 11, 380-392.
• 4. Begin R, Bergeron D, Samson L, Boctor M, Cantin A: CT assessment of silicosis in exposed workers. AJR 1987, 148, 509-514.
• 5. Bergin CJ, Muller NL, Vedal S, Chang-Yeung M: CT in silicosis: correlation with plain films and pulmonary function tests. AJR 1986, 146, 477-483.
• 6. Bonelli FS, Hartman TE, Swensen SJ, Sherrick A: Accuracy of high-resolution CT in diagnosing lung diseases. AJR 1998, 170, 1507-1512.
• 7. Galvin JR, Mori M, Stanford W: High resolution computed tomography and diffuse lung disease. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol 1992, 21, 31-74.
• 8. Gamsu G: Computed tomography and high-resolution computed tomography of pneumoconioses. J Occup Med 1991, 33, 794-796.
• 9. Gevenois PA, Pichot E, Dargent F, Dedeire S., Vande Weyer R, De Vuyst P: Low grade coal worker's pneumoconiosis. Comparison of CT and chest radiography. Acta Radiol 1994, 35, 351-356.
• 10. Gevenois PA, Pichot E., Dargent F, Vande Weyer R, De Vuyst P: Tomodensitometrie des pneumoconiosis. Ann Radiol Paris 1994, 37, 222-228.
• 11. International Labour Office. Guidelines for the use of ILO, International Classification of Pneumoconiosis. Revised Ed. 1980. Occupational Safety and Health Series No 22, Genova 1980.
• 12. Kraus T, Raithel HJ, Hering KG: Evaluation and classification of high-resolution computed tomographic findings in patients with pneumoconiosis. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1996, 68, 249-254.
• 13. Lamers RJ, Schins RP, Wouters EF, van Engelshoven JM: Highresolution
• computed tomography of the lungs in coal miners’ with a normal chest radiograph. Exp Lung Res 1994, 20, 411-419.
• 14. Lee KS, Kim TS, Han J, Hwang JH, Yoon JH, Kim Y, Yoo SY: Diffuse micronodular lung disease: HRCT and pathologic findings. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1999, 23, 99-106.
• 15. Meziane MA, Hruban RH, Zerhouni EA, Wheeler PS, Khouri NF, Fishman EK, Hutchins GM, Siegelman SS: High-resolution CT of the lung parenchyma with pathologic correlation. Radiographics 1988, 8, 27-54.
• 16. Muller NL, Mayo JR, Lentle BC: Imaging of diffuse lung diseases. Past, present and future. Radiol Clin North Am 1991, 29, 1115-1121.
• 17. Remy-Jardin M., Beuscart R., Sault MC, Marquette CH, Remy J: Subpleural micronodules in diffuse infiltrative lung diseases. Evaluation with thin-section CT scans. Radiology 1990, 177, 133-139.
• 18. Remy-Jardin M, Degreef JM, Beuscart R, Voisin C, Remy J: Coal worker's pneumoconiosis: CT assessment in exposed worker's and correlation with radiographic findings. Radiology 1990, 177, 363-371.
• 19. Remy-Jardin M, Remy J, Farre I, Marguette CH: Computed tomographic evaluation of silicosis and coal worker's pneumoconiosis. Radiol Clin North Am 1992, 30, 1155-1176.
• 20. Remy-Jardin M, Remy J, Giraud F, Marquette CH: Pulmonary nodules: detection with thick-section spiral CT versus conventional CT. Radiology 1993, 187, 513-520.
• 21. Stern A: High-resolution CT of the chest. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia 2000.
• 22. Webb WR: High-resolution lung computed tomography. Normal anatomic and pathologic findings. Radiol Clin North Am 1991, 29, 1051-1063.
• 23. Zwirevich CV, Mayo JR, Muller NL: Low-dose high-resolution CT of the lung parenchyma. Radiology 1991, 180, 413-417.