Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Sci Total Environ. 2019 Dec 20;697:134018. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134018. Epub 2019 Aug 22.
Occupational exposure to wood dust and bioaerosols may lead to numerous respiratory tract diseases. We aimed to assess a degree of workplace contamination with dust, bacteria, fungi, endotoxins, and (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans released into the air during wood processing in pellet production facilities and to check against this background the usefulness of nasal lavage (NAL) as analytical tool for assessment of combined workers' exposure to airborne dust and microbiological contaminants. In 10 pellet plants, the particulate (wood dust) aerosol concentrations were determined by using Grimm aerosol spectrometer and CIS filter sampler. The collected CIS samples were subsequently used to evaluate endotoxin and (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan concentrations. Simultaneously with particulate aerosol, bioaerosol samples were collected by using 6-stage Andersen and single-stage MAS impactors. Bacterial and fungal aerosol concentrations were calculated and all isolated microorganisms were taxonomically identified. NAL fluid samples were collected from workers exposed to studied aerosols and the concentrations of proinflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα) and cytological image of nasal mucosa (expressed as cell counts) were established. The dynamics of production activities resulted in wide range of observed wood dust, microorganism, endotoxin and (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan concentrations reaching periodically extremely high values up to 65 mg m, 19,320 CFU m, 215 ng m and 1525 ng m, respectively. Environmental stress caused by exposure to particulate and microbial aerosols stimulated immune response among workers of pellet production facilities. Correlation analysis revealed that interleukin levels and the number of cells in NAL were significantly affected by both wood dust and bioaerosol concentrations. As nasal mucosa serves as the primary barrier against inhaled pollutants, NAL seems a reliable analytical material to assess work-related adverse respiratory health outcomes derived from such exposure.
职业性接触木尘和生物气溶胶可能导致许多呼吸道疾病。我们旨在评估木屑颗粒生产设施中木材加工过程中空气中释放的粉尘、细菌、真菌、内毒素和（1→3）-β-D-葡聚糖的污染程度，并在此背景下检查鼻洗液（NAL）作为评估空气中粉尘和微生物污染物综合暴露的分析工具的有用性。在 10 个颗粒厂中，使用 Grimm 气溶胶光谱仪和 CIS 滤膜采样器测定颗粒（木尘）气溶胶浓度。随后，使用收集的 CIS 样本评估内毒素和（1→3）-β-D-葡聚糖浓度。同时采集空气中的生物气溶胶，使用六级 Andersen 和单级 MAS 撞击器进行采集。计算细菌和真菌气溶胶浓度，并对所有分离的微生物进行分类鉴定。从接触研究气溶胶的工人中采集 NAL 液体样本，建立促炎介质（IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8 和 TNFα）浓度和鼻黏膜细胞学图像（表示为细胞计数）。生产活动的动态变化导致观察到的木尘、微生物、内毒素和（1→3）-β-D-葡聚糖浓度范围很广，周期性地达到极高值，分别达到 65mg/m、19320CFU/m、215ng/m 和 1525ng/m。暴露于颗粒和微生物气溶胶引起的环境应激刺激了颗粒生产设施工人的免疫反应。相关分析表明，白细胞介素水平和 NAL 中的细胞数受到木尘和生物气溶胶浓度的显著影响。由于鼻黏膜是防止吸入污染物的第一道屏障，因此 NAL 似乎是一种可靠的分析材料，可用于评估此类暴露引起的与工作相关的不良呼吸健康结果。
