Stuurman B, Meijster T, Heederik D, Doekes G
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Occup Environ Med. 2008 Jan;65(1):68-70. doi: 10.1136/oem.2007.032623. Epub 2007 Aug 15.
To obtain an overview of inhalable beta(1-->3)glucans levels in Dutch industrial bakeries and explore possible associations with reported respiratory health effects in bakery workers.
beta(1-->3)glucan levels were analysed in 186 personal inhalable dust measurements obtained from a random population of bakery workers. Association between respiratory health effects and exposure to beta(1-->3)glucan was explored in a population of industrial bakery workers participating in a Health Surveillance System for flour processing sectors. Based on their job, bakery workers were assigned to low or high exposure categories given the average job exposure estimates obtained from the measurement study.
Bread bakers and dough makers had the highest exposures to beta(1-->3)glucans (GM 1.48 mug/m3 and 1.37 mug/m3 respectively). Strong correlations were found between airborne levels of inhalable dust and beta(1-->3)glucans, and between beta(1-->3)glucans and wheat allergens (Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.74 and 0.68 respectively). No significant associations could be identified between beta(1-->3)glucan exposure and work-related respiratory symptoms.
This study has shown that bakery workers are exposed to inhalable beta(1-->3)glucan levels comparable with exposure levels found in other occupational settings. More refined exposure assessment is necessary to fully understand the role of beta(1-->3)glucan exposure on respiratory health in bakery workers.
了解荷兰工业面包房内可吸入β(1→3)葡聚糖的水平，并探讨其与面包房工人报告的呼吸健康影响之间的可能关联。
对从面包房工人随机群体中获取的186份个人可吸入粉尘测量样本中的β(1→3)葡聚糖水平进行分析。在参与面粉加工行业健康监测系统的工业面包房工人群体中，探讨呼吸健康影响与β(1→3)葡聚糖暴露之间的关联。根据测量研究得出的平均工作暴露估计值，面包房工人按其工作被分为低暴露组或高暴露组。
面包烘焙师和面团制作工接触β(1→3)葡聚糖的水平最高（几何均值分别为1.48微克/立方米和1.37微克/立方米）。可吸入粉尘的空气传播水平与β(1→3)葡聚糖之间，以及β(1→3)葡聚糖与小麦过敏原之间存在强相关性（皮尔逊相关系数分别为0.74和0.68）。在β(1→3)葡聚糖暴露与工作相关的呼吸道症状之间未发现显著关联。
本研究表明，面包房工人接触的可吸入β(1→3)葡聚糖水平与其他职业环境中的暴露水平相当。需要更精细的暴露评估，以充分了解β(1→3)葡聚糖暴露对面包房工人呼吸健康的作用。
