title: [Study on occupational respiratory diseases in fur-processing workers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the respiratory system injury in fur processing environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Environmental fungal survey was conducted in the fur processing procedures. Investigation of respiratory symptoms and chest X-ray examination were also carried out in 138 fur processing workers and 40 control workers. At the same time, the serum antibodies to fungi were analyzed by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fungal number(629-3,681 cfu/m3) in fur processing procedures was much higher than those in the control environment. Cladosporium and Alternaria were the leading strains of fungi in fur processing procedures. The rates of respiratory symptoms(cough, sputum, chest tightness, dyspnea, and fever) in fur processing workers were higher than those in the control workers. The rates of the symptoms in female workers were 37.9%, 28.4%, 10.5%, 22.1%, 4.2%, respectively. Abnormalities of chest X ray were found in 7 workers. The serum antibodies to Cladosporium and Alternaria(A450 nm 0.631, 0.724, respectively) in fur workers were significantly higher than those in the control workers(P < 0.05). The positive rates of the antibodies to Cladosporium and Alternaria(44.2%, 42.8%) were significantly higher than those in the control workers(P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cladosporium and Alternaria may be the pathogens of occupational respiratory diseases in fur processing workers.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhenlin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Changying
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Huizhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Sufen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Liyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal