Centre for Workplace Health, Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK.
Occup Med (Lond). 2011 Aug;61(5):370-3. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqr083.
A number of specialist food suppliers in the UK breed and distribute insects and insect larvae as food for exotic pets, such as reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
To investigate the extent of work-related (WR) symptoms and workplace-specific serum IgE in workers potentially exposed to a variety of biological contaminants, including insect and insect larvae allergens, endotoxin and cereal allergens at a UK specialist insect breeding facility.
We undertook a study of respiratory symptoms and exposures at the facility, with subsequent detailed clinical assessment of one worker. All 32 workers were assessed clinically using a respiratory questionnaire and lung function. Eighteen workers consented to provide serum for determination of specific IgE to workplace allergens.
Thirty-four per cent (11/32) of insect workers reported WR respiratory symptoms. Sensitization, as judged by specific IgE, was found in 29% (4/14) of currently exposed workers. Total inhalable dust levels ranged from 1.2 to 17.9 mg/m(3) [mean 4.3 mg/m(3) (SD 4.4 mg/m(3)), median 2.0 mg/m(3)] and endotoxin levels of up to 29435 EU/m(3) were recorded.
Exposure to organic dusts below the levels for which there are UK workplace exposure limits can result in respiratory symptoms and sensitization. The results should alert those responsible for the health of similarly exposed workers to the potential for respiratory ill-health and the need to provide a suitable health surveillance programme.
在英国，一些专业的食品供应商饲养和销售昆虫和昆虫幼虫作为异宠的食物，如爬行动物、两栖动物和无脊椎动物。
调查在英国一家专业昆虫养殖场工作的人员接触多种生物污染物（包括昆虫和昆虫幼虫过敏原、内毒素和谷物过敏原）时与工作相关（WR）的症状和特定工作场所的血清 IgE 的程度。
我们对该设施进行了呼吸症状和暴露情况的研究，随后对一名工人进行了详细的临床评估。所有 32 名工人都接受了呼吸问卷和肺功能的临床评估。18 名工人同意提供血清，以确定对工作场所过敏原的特异性 IgE。
34%（11/32）的昆虫工人报告有 WR 呼吸道症状。通过特异性 IgE 判定，目前接触的 29%（4/14）工人存在致敏。总可吸入粉尘水平范围为 1.2 至 17.9 mg/m³[平均值 4.3 mg/m³（SD 4.4 mg/m³），中位数 2.0 mg/m³]，记录到的内毒素水平高达 29435 EU/m³。
接触低于英国工作场所暴露限值的有机粉尘可导致呼吸道症状和致敏。这些结果应提醒负责同样暴露工人健康的人员注意潜在的呼吸道健康问题，并需要提供适当的健康监测计划。
