Rongo Larama Mb, Msamanga Gernard I, Burstyn Igor, Barten Françoise, Dolmans Wil Mv, Heederik Dick
Community Health Department, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol. 2004 Nov;14(7):544-50. doi: 10.1038/sj.jea.7500375.
Workers in small-scale wood industries (SSWI) have increased risks of developing asthma and other respiratory diseases. Wood dust and microbial agents have both been suggested to play a role, but few studies have measured endotoxin exposure in SSWI in Africa. We assessed inhalable dust levels in 281 samples from 115 workers and bacterial endotoxins levels in 157 samples from 136 workers from SSWI in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The overall geometric mean of personal exposure was 3.3 mg/m(3); geometric standard deviation (GSD) 2.5; range 0.45-67.0 mg/m(3)) and 91 EU/m(3) (GSD 3.7; range 9-4914.8 EU/m(3)) for wood dust and endotoxins, respectively. Dust and endotoxin levels were weakly correlated (r = 0.44, n = 157, P < 0.0001). Between- and within-worker variances and percentages explained by the differences among job titles and seasons were 0.31 (9%) and 0.35 (30%), respectively, for wood dust exposure, and 0.35 (0%) and 0.35 (38%) for endotoxin exposure. Higher dust and endotoxin exposure levels were observed in the dry compared to the wet season, after correcting for differences in exposure between jobs. Carving and manual cleaning were associated with the highest dust exposures. Sewing seat covers and manual cleaning were associated with the highest endotoxin exposures. Dust and endotoxin exposure levels in SSWI are high and appropriate control measures are necessary.
小规模木材工业（SSWI）的工人患哮喘和其他呼吸道疾病的风险增加。木材粉尘和微生物制剂都被认为起到了一定作用，但在非洲小规模木材工业中，很少有研究测量内毒素暴露情况。我们评估了来自坦桑尼亚达累斯萨拉姆小规模木材工业的115名工人的281个样本中的可吸入粉尘水平，以及136名工人的157个样本中的细菌内毒素水平。木材粉尘和内毒素的个人暴露总体几何平均值分别为3.3毫克/立方米（几何标准差[GSD] 2.5；范围0.45 - 67.0毫克/立方米）和91 EU/立方米（GSD 3.7；范围9 - 4914.8 EU/立方米）。粉尘和内毒素水平呈弱相关（r = 0.44，n = 157，P < 0.0001）。木材粉尘暴露的工人间和工人内方差以及由职称和季节差异解释的百分比分别为0.31（9%）和0.35（30%），内毒素暴露的分别为0.35（0%）和0.35（38%）。在校正工作间暴露差异后，与雨季相比，旱季观察到更高的粉尘和内毒素暴露水平。雕刻和手工清洁与最高的粉尘暴露相关。缝制座椅套和手工清洁与最高的内毒素暴露相关。小规模木材工业中的粉尘和内毒素暴露水平很高，因此需要采取适当的控制措施。
