Histamine and endotoxin contamination of hay and respirable hay dust.
Three distinct samples collected from a barn in which an outbreak of respiratory problems occurred were examined for possible etiologic agents. No causal relationship could be established from the results of this study; however histamine concentrations as high as 0.5 ng/mg for bulk hay (in the absence of measurable creatinine levels) along with 6138.3 endotoxin units/mg of hay were present in the samples. Both endotoxin and histamine could be recovered from respirable hay dust. The authenticity of the histamine found in the hay was evaluated with high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Histamine release caused by hay extracts was evaluated with the use of leukocytes from the farmer and a referent. Histamine is known to modulate the immune system, but the role of occupational or environmental exposure to histamine in respiratory disease is unknown.
Siegel
P D
PD
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505.
Olenchock
S A
SA
Sorenson
W G
WG
Lewis
D M
DM
Bledsoe
T A
TA
May
J J
JJ
Pratt
D S
DS
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine