Laitinen S, Kangas J, Husman K, Susitaival P
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Kuopio, Finland.
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2001;8(2):213-9.
The aim of this study was to assess workers' exposure to endotoxins and peptidoglycans, as well as associations between workers' reported symptoms and the detected bacterial exposures. From the filter samples, biologically-active endotoxins were analysed with the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. The total amount of endotoxins was analysed as 3-hydroxy (OH) fatty acids with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) assay, which was also used to assess peptidoglycans as muramic acid. Biologically-active endotoxins related better to the self-reported symptoms than total endotoxins. Specific 3-OH-14:0 fatty acid in the total endotoxin samples associated better with the symptoms than other 3-OH fatty acids. Half of the surveyed 77 workers reported respiratory symptoms, 27% eye symptoms, and 10% fever or shivering. The proportion of workers with respiratory symptoms was greater when the concentration of endotoxins was over 25 ng/m3. These endotoxin levels were occasionally found in the air of most studied occupational environments. The muramic acid concentrations of peptidoglycans were highest (medians over 100 ng/m3) in the garbage-handling plant and in the grain/vegetable storage houses. The LAL assay for endotoxins, as well as the GC-MS assay analysing muramic acid for peptidoglycans or specific 3-OH fatty acids for endotoxins, seem to be suitable methods for evaluating workers' exposure to airborne bacteria.
本研究的目的是评估工人接触内毒素和肽聚糖的情况，以及工人报告的症状与检测到的细菌暴露之间的关联。从过滤器样本中，使用鲎试剂法（LAL）分析生物活性内毒素。内毒素总量通过气相色谱 - 质谱联用（GC - MS）法分析为3 - 羟基（OH）脂肪酸，该方法也用于评估作为胞壁酸的肽聚糖。生物活性内毒素与自我报告症状的相关性比总内毒素更好。总内毒素样本中的特定3 - OH - 14:0脂肪酸与症状的相关性比其他3 - OH脂肪酸更好。在接受调查的77名工人中，一半报告有呼吸道症状，27%报告有眼部症状，10%报告有发热或寒战。当内毒素浓度超过25 ng/m³时，有呼吸道症状的工人比例更高。这些内毒素水平在大多数研究的职业环境空气中偶尔会被发现。肽聚糖的胞壁酸浓度在垃圾处理厂和谷物/蔬菜储存库中最高（中位数超过100 ng/m³）。用于内毒素的LAL测定法，以及用于分析肽聚糖胞壁酸或内毒素特定3 - OH脂肪酸的GC - MS测定法，似乎是评估工人接触空气传播细菌的合适方法。
