RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To better understand respiratory symptoms and lung function in flavouring manufacturing workers. METHODS: We offered a questionnaire and lung function testing to the current workforce of a flavouring manufacturing facility that had transitioned away from diacetyl and towards substitutes in recent years. We examined symptoms, spirometric parameters and diffusing capacity measurements by exposure variables, including facility tenure and time spent daily in production areas. We used linear and logistic regression to develop final models adjusted for age and smoking status. RESULTS: A total of 367 (93%) current workers participated. Shortness of breath was twice as common in those with tenure ≥ 7 years (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6). Other chest symptoms were associated with time spent daily in production. Participants who spent ≥ 1 h daily in production areas had twice the odds of any spirometric abnormality (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.1 to 5.3) and three times the odds of low diffusing capacity (OR 2.8; 95% CI 0.9 to 9.4) than other participants. Mean spirometric parameters were significantly lower in those with tenure ≥ 7 years and those who spent ≥ 1 h daily in production. Mean diffusing capacity parameters were significantly lower in those with tenure ≥ 7 years. Differences in symptoms and lung function could not be explained by age, smoking status or employment at another flavouring plant. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms and lung function findings were consistent with undiagnosed or subclinical obliterative bronchiolitis and associated with workplace exposures. Further efforts to lower exposures to flavouring chemicals, including diacetyl substitutes, are warranted.
Asunto(s)
Bronquiolitis Obliterante/etiología , Diacetil/efectos adversos , Aromatizantes/efectos adversos , Industrias , Pulmón/fisiopatología , Enfermedades Profesionales/etiología , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Adulto , Anciano , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/efectos adversos , Bronquiolitis Obliterante/fisiopatología , Estudios Transversales , Disnea/etiología , Femenino , Volumen Espiratorio Forzado , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedades Profesionales/fisiopatología , Oportunidad Relativa , Pruebas de Función Respiratoria , Espirometría , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Capacidad Vital , Trabajo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Respiratory problems are common among wildland firefighters. However, there are few studies directly linking occupational exposures to respiratory effects in this population. Our objective was to characterize wildland fire fighting occupational exposures and assess their associations with cross-shift changes in lung function. We studied 17 members of the Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew with environmental sampling and pulmonary function testing during a large wildfire. We characterized particles by examining size distribution and mass concentration, and conducting elemental and morphological analyses. We examined associations between cross-shift lung function change and various analytes, including levoglucosan, an indicator of wood smoke from burning biomass. The levoglucosan component of the wildfire aerosol showed a predominantly bimodal size distribution: a coarse particle mode with a mass median aerodynamic diameter about 12 µm and a fine particle mode with a mass median aerodynamic diameter < 0.5 µm. Levoglucosan was found mainly in the respirable fraction and its concentration was higher for fire line construction operations than for mop-up operations. Larger cross-shift declines in forced expiratory volume in one second were associated with exposure to higher concentrations of respirable levoglucosan (p < 0.05). Paired analyses of real-time personal air sampling measurements indicated that higher carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were correlated with higher particulate concentrations when examined by mean values, but not by individual data points. However, low CO concentrations did not provide reliable assurance of concomitantly low particulate concentrations. We conclude that inhalation of fine smoke particles is associated with acute lung function decline in some wildland firefighters. Based on short-term findings, it appears important to address possible long-term respiratory health issues for wildland firefighters. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene for the following free supplemental resources: a file containing additional information on historical studies of wildland fire exposures, a file containing the daily-exposure-severity questionnaire completed by wildland firefighter participants at the end of each day, and a file containing additional details of the investigation of correlations between carbon monoxide concentrations and other measured exposure factors in the current study.].
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/efectos adversos , Bomberos , Exposición por Inhalación/efectos adversos , Pulmón/fisiopatología , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Humo/efectos adversos , Adulto , Aerosoles/efectos adversos , Aerosoles/análisis , Aerosoles/química , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/análisis , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/química , Biomarcadores/análisis , Pruebas Respiratorias , Carbono/efectos adversos , Carbono/análisis , Monóxido de Carbono/efectos adversos , Monóxido de Carbono/análisis , Femenino , Volumen Espiratorio Forzado , Glucosa/efectos adversos , Glucosa/análogos & derivados , Glucosa/análisis , Glucosa/química , Humanos , Exposición por Inhalación/análisis , Masculino , Exposición Profesional/análisis , Tamaño de la Partícula , Dióxido de Silicio/efectos adversos , Dióxido de Silicio/análisis , Humo/análisis , Espirometría , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is the intermittent paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords during respiration, resulting in variable upper airway obstruction. Exposure to damp indoor environments is associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes, including asthma, but its role in the development of VCD is not well described. OBJECTIVE: We describe the spectrum of respiratory illness in occupants of 2 water-damaged office buildings. METHODS: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a health hazard evaluation that included interviews with managers, a maintenance officer, a remediation specialist who had evaluated the 2 buildings, employees, and consulting physicians. In addition, medical records and reports of building evaluations were reviewed. Diagnostic evaluations for VCD had been conducted at the Asthma and Allergy Center of the Medical College of Wisconsin. RESULTS: Two cases of VCD were temporally related to occupancy of water-damaged buildings. The patients experienced cough, chest tightness, dyspnea, wheezing, and hoarseness when in the buildings. Spirometry was normal. Methacholine challenge did not show bronchial hyperreactivity but did elicit symptoms of VCD and inspiratory flow-volume loop truncation. Direct laryngoscopy revealed vocal cord adduction during inspiration. Coworkers developed upper and lower respiratory symptoms; their diagnoses included sinusitis and asthma, consistent with recognized effects of exposure to indoor dampness. Building evaluations provided evidence of water damage and mold growth. CONCLUSION: VCD can occur with exposure to water-damaged buildings and should be considered in exposed patients with asthma-like symptoms.
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Contaminación del Aire Interior/efectos adversos , Exposición por Inhalación/efectos adversos , Hongos Mitospóricos , Disfunción de los Pliegues Vocales/diagnóstico , Disfunción de los Pliegues Vocales/microbiología , Agua , Adulto , Asma/complicaciones , Asma/diagnóstico , Asma/microbiología , Pruebas de Provocación Bronquial/métodos , Tos/complicaciones , Tos/diagnóstico , Tos/microbiología , Disnea/complicaciones , Disnea/diagnóstico , Disnea/microbiología , Femenino , Ronquera/complicaciones , Ronquera/diagnóstico , Ronquera/microbiología , Humanos , Laringoscopía/métodos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ruidos Respiratorios/diagnóstico , Ruidos Respiratorios/etiología , Sinusitis/complicaciones , Sinusitis/diagnóstico , Sinusitis/microbiología , Estados Unidos , Disfunción de los Pliegues Vocales/complicacionesRESUMEN
Diacetyl (2,3-butanedione), a diketone chemical used to impart a buttery taste in many flavoring mixtures, has been associated with bronchiolitis obliterans in several industrial settings. For workplace evaluations in 2000-2006, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigators used NIOSH Method 2557, a sampling and analytical method for airborne diacetyl utilizing carbon molecular sieve sorbent tubes. The method was subsequently suspected to progressively underestimate diacetyl concentrations with increasing sampling site humidity. Since underestimation of worker exposure may lead to overestimation of respiratory health risk in quantitative exposure-effect analyses, correction of the diacetyl concentrations previously reported with Method 2557 is essential. We studied the effects of humidity and sample storage duration on recovery of diacetyl from experimental air samples taken from a dynamically generated controlled test atmosphere that allowed control of diacetyl concentration, temperature, relative humidity, sampling duration, and sampling flow rate. Samples were analyzed with Method 2557, and results were compared with theoretical test atmosphere diacetyl concentration. After fitting nonlinear models to the experimental data, we found that absolute humidity, diacetyl concentration, and days of sample storage prior to extraction affected diacetyl recovery as did sampling flow rate to a much smaller extent. We derived a mathematical correction procedure to more accurately estimate historical workplace diacetyl concentration based on laboratory-reported concentrations of diacetyl using Method 2557, and sample site temperature and relative humidity (to calculate absolute humidity), as well as days of sample storage prior to extraction in the laboratory. With this correction procedure, quantitative risk assessment for diacetyl can proceed using corrected exposure levels for air samples previously collected and analyzed using NIOSH Method 2557 for airborne diacetyl.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/análisis , Algoritmos , Diacetil/análisis , Humedad , Exposición Profesional/análisis , Técnicas de Química Analítica , Aromatizantes , Modelos Teóricos , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. , Salud Laboral , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Firefighting, along with construction, mining and agriculture, ranks among the most dangerous occupations. In addition, the work environment of firefighters is unlike that of any other occupation, not only because of the obvious physical hazards but also due to the respiratory and systemic health hazards of smoke inhalation resulting from combustion. A significant amount of research has been devoted to studying municipal firefighters; however, these studies may not be useful in wildland firefighter exposures, because the two work environments are so different. Not only are wildland firefighters exposed to different combustion products, but their exposure profiles are different. The combustion products wildland firefighters are exposed to can vary greatly in characteristics due to the type and amount of material being burned, soil conditions, temperature and exposure time. Smoke inhalation is one of the greatest concerns for firefighter health and it has been shown that the smoke consists of a large number of particles. These smoke particles contain intermediates of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen free radicals, which may pose a potential health risk. Our investigation looked into the involvement of free radicals in smoke toxicity and the relationship between particle size and radical generation. Samples were collected in discrete aerodynamic particle sizes from a wildfire in Alaska, preserved and then shipped to our laboratory for analysis. Electron spin resonance was used to measure carbon-centered as well as hydroxyl radicals produced by a Fenton-like reaction with wildfire smoke. Further study of reactive oxygen species was conducted using analysis of cellular H(2)O(2) generation, lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes and DNA damage. Results demonstrate that coarse size-range particles contained more carbon radicals per unit mass than the ultrafine particles; however, the ultrafine particles generated more *OH radicals in the acellular Fenton-like reaction. The ultrafine particles also caused significant increases in H(2)O(2) production by monocytes and lipid peroxidation. All particle sizes showed the ability to cause DNA damage. These results indicate that the radical generation and the damage caused by them is not only a function of surface area but is also influenced by changing chemical and other characteristics due to particle size.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos/toxicidad , Incendios , Radicales Libres/toxicidad , Humo/efectos adversos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Animales , Línea Celular , Daño del ADN , Radicales Libres/análisis , Peróxido de Hidrógeno/metabolismo , Peroxidación de Lípido/efectos de los fármacos , Ratones , Monocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Monocitos/metabolismo , Tamaño de la Partícula , Humo/análisisRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Following employee respiratory concerns, we investigated the health effects of rayon flock exposure at a card manufacturing plant. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey including environmental evaluation, standardized questionnaires, spirometry, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity testing, and methacholine challenge testing. RESULTS: From a total of 239 participants, 146 (61%) reported working at least 1 hr per week in areas where flock-coated cards are processed (flock workers) and 47 (20%) reported cleaning equipment with compressed air. These workers had generally higher prevalences of respiratory symptoms. Flock workers and employees with longer tenure at areas where flock-coated cards are processed were more likely to have restrictive impairment of lung function. Although dust and fiber samples were largely below the detection limits, peak exposures to airborne particulate occurred during cleaning with compressed air. CONCLUSIONS: Working with rayon flock and cleaning with compressed air were associated with health effects in workers at this plant.
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Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/toxicidad , Celulosa/toxicidad , Polvo , Enfermedades Pulmonares Intersticiales/epidemiología , Enfermedades Profesionales/epidemiología , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Industria Textil , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Volumen Espiratorio Forzado , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Enfermedades Pulmonares Intersticiales/etiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedades Profesionales/etiología , Prevalencia , Espirometría , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Capacidad Vital , West Virginia/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
In microwave popcorn workers, exposure to butter flavorings has been associated with fixed obstructive lung disease resembling bronchiolitis obliterans. Inhalation toxicology studies have shown severe respiratory effects in rats exposed to vapors from a paste butter flavoring, and to diacetyl, a diketone found in most butter flavorings. To gain a better understanding of worker exposures, we assessed diacetyl emissions and airborne dust levels from butter flavorings used by several microwave popcorn manufacturing companies. We heated bulk samples of 40 different butter flavorings (liquids, pastes, and powders) to approximately 50 degrees C and used gas chromatography, with a mass selective detector, to measure the relative abundance of volatile organic compounds emitted. Air sampling was conducted for diacetyl and for total and respirable dust during the mixing of powder, liquid, or paste flavorings with heated soybean oil at a microwave popcorn plant. To further examine the potential for respiratory exposures to powders, we measured dust generated during different simulated methods of manual handling of several powder butter flavorings. Powder flavorings were found to give off much lower diacetyl emissions than pastes or liquids. The mean diacetyl emissions from liquids and pastes were 64 and 26 times larger, respectively, than the mean of diacetyl emissions from powders. The median diacetyl emissions from liquids and pastes were 364 and 72 times larger, respectively, than the median of diacetyl emissions from powders. Fourteen of 16 powders had diacetyl emissions that were lower than the diacetyl emissions from any liquid flavoring and from most paste flavorings. However, simulated handling of powder flavorings showed that a substantial amount of the airborne dust generated was of respirable size and could thus pose its own respiratory hazard. Companies that use butter flavorings should consider substituting flavorings with lower diacetyl emissions and the use of ventilation and enclosure engineering controls to minimize exposures. Until controls are fully implemented, companies should institute mandatory respiratory protection for all exposed workers.
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Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/análisis , Diacetil/análisis , Polvo/análisis , Aromatizantes/análisis , Industria de Procesamiento de Alimentos , Exposición Profesional , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/química , Mantequilla , Cromatografía de Gases , Diacetil/química , Aromatizantes/química , Industria de Procesamiento de Alimentos/normas , Microondas , Exposición Profesional/normas , Tamaño de la PartículaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: After investigating fixed airways obstruction in butter flavoring-exposed workers at a microwave popcorn plant, we sought to further characterize lung disease risk from airborne butter-flavoring chemicals. METHODS: We analyzed data from medical and environmental surveys at six microwave popcorn plants (including the index plant). RESULTS: Respiratory symptom and airways obstruction prevalences were higher in oil and flavorings mixers with longer work histories and in packaging-area workers near nonisolated tanks of oil and flavorings. Workers were affected at five plants, one with mixing-area exposure to diacetyl (a butter-flavoring chemical with known respiratory toxicity potential) as low as 0.02 ppm. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave popcorn workers at many plants are at risk for flavoring-related lung disease. Peak exposures may be hazardous even when ventilation maintains low average exposures. Respiratory protection and engineering controls are necessary to protect workers.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/análisis , Diacetil/análisis , Industria de Procesamiento de Alimentos , Enfermedades Pulmonares Obstructivas/prevención & control , Exposición Profesional/análisis , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/efectos adversos , Estudios Transversales , Diacetil/efectos adversos , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Enfermedades Pulmonares Obstructivas/inducido químicamente , Enfermedades Pulmonares Obstructivas/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Exposición Profesional/prevención & control , Ocupaciones , Prevalencia , Medición de Riesgo , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Eight former workers from a microwave popcorn packaging plant were reported to have severe obstructive lung disease consistent with bronchiolitis obliterans. Investigations into respiratory exposures at this plant were done during August through November of 2000. Samples were collected to assess airborne particulate concentrations, particle size distributions, endotoxins, oxides of nitrogen, organic gases and vapors, and other analytes. Bulk corn and flavoring components were also analyzed for endotoxins and culturable bacteria and fungi. Workers in the microwave production areas of the plant were exposed to particulates and a range of organic vapors from flavorings. The particles were comprised largely of salt and oil/grease particles. Respirable dust concentrations (area plus personal) in the microwave mixer job category, the highest job exposure category in the plant, ranged from 0.13 milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) to a high of 0.77 mg/m3. Endotoxin concentrations were below 60 endotoxin units per cubic meter of air (EU/m3). Qualitative sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air detected over 100 different VOCs in the microwave area. The predominant compounds identified in the microwave mixing room included the ketones diacetyl, methyl ethyl ketone, acetoin, and 2-nonanone, and acetic acid. Diacetyl, the predominant ketone in the plant, was present in concentrations ranging from below detectable limits to 98 parts per million parts air by volume (ppm), with a mean of 8.1 ppm (standard deviation 18.5 ppm). The average ketone concentrations were highest in the microwave mixing room where the 10 area samples had a mean diacetyl concentration of 37.8 ppm (SD 27.6 ppm) and a mean acetoin concentration of 3.9 ppm (SD 4.3 ppm). These data show that workers involved in microwave popcorn packaging can be exposed to a complex mixture of VOCs from flavoring ingredients; animal studies show that diacetyl can cause airway epithelial injury, although the contributions of other specific compound(s) associated with obstructive respiratory disease in these workers is still unresolved.
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Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/efectos adversos , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/análisis , Bronquiolitis Obliterante/etiología , Embalaje de Alimentos , Exposición por Inhalación , Cetonas/análisis , Exposición Profesional , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Industria de Alimentos , Humanos , Cetonas/efectos adversos , Microondas , Zea maysRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Sentinel cases of lymphocytic bronchiolitis in flock production and coating operations triggered a five-plant study of airborne respirable dust and fiber exposures and health symptoms. METHODS: Job histories from 219 current workers were linked to a job-exposure matrix derived from personal exposure measurements of respirable dust and fibers. Univariate group comparisons and multivariate modeling tested for relations between indices of cumulative and current exposure, and respiratory and systemic symptom outcomes. RESULTS: Respiratory symptoms and repeated flu-like illnesses were associated with use of compressed air to clear equipment (blow-downs) and with respirable dust exposure (current and cumulative) after controlling for smoking. Blow-downs had an equal or greater effect than smoking status on most symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Eliminating compressed air cleaning, engineering control of dust exposure, and respirators are needed to limit exposures to particulates. Longitudinal follow up may provide guidance for a dust or fiber level without adverse respiratory health effects.