title: Endotoxin exposure as a major determinant of lung function decline in pig farmers.
abstract: Exposure-response relationships for endotoxin as measured in dust and longitudinal decline in lung function were studied. A cohort of 171 pig farmers was followed over a 3-yr period. Long-term average exposure to dust and endotoxin was determined by personal monitoring in summer and winter, using data on farm characteristics and activities. Mean decline in FEV1 was 73 ml/yr and in FVC 55 ml/ yr. Long-term average exposure to dust was 2.63 mg/m3 (geometric SD [GSD] 1.30), and to endotoxin, 105 ng/m3 (GSD 1.5). Annual decline in FEV1 was significantly associated with endotoxin exposure. An increase in exposure with a factor 2 was associated with an extra decline of FEV1 of 19 ml/yr.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Social Medicine, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. P.Vogelzang@hsv.kun.nl
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Vogelzang
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Gulden
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Folgering
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kolk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heederik
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Preller
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tielen
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van Schayck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013552:Swine; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins