Exposure to bioaerosols: allergic reactions and respiratory function in Polish hop growers.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of work-related symptoms in hop growers and their relation to bioaerosols exposure. The study group comprised 69 hop growers and 58 office workers as controls. The examination included: physician-administrated questionnaire, PEF measurements, skin prick test, agar-gel precipitation test, and migration inhibition test. Microbiological air sampling was performed on all farms.


RESULTS
The concentrations of total airborne microflora ranged from 2.08 to 129.6 x 10(3) CFU/m3. Airborne endotoxin and dust concentrations ranged from 26 to 6250 ng/m3 and 0.2-31.7 mg/m3, respectively. Altogether 52.2% of farmers complained of work-related symptoms. Positive skin reactions to microbial allergens were significantly more frequent in a group of hop growers with work-related respiratory symptoms compared to the rest of the farmers (18% vs 2%, P <0.05). Positive reactions in agar-gel precipitation test and in the leukocyte migration inhibition test were not correlated with the occurrence of work-related symptoms. The mean daily PEF values in farmers were lower compared to controls (469.7 +/- 127.5 vs 562.9 +/- 123.8; P <0.001). PEF (amp%mean) was higher in farmers compared to controls (9.3% vs 8.1%; P <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite relatively lower exposure to bioaerosols, compared to farmers in other branches of agriculture, over 50% of hop growers complained of work-related symptoms. This may be partly due to the effects of microbial allergens and toxins and partly to the irritant or allergic properties of hop plant itself.
Góra
Anna
A
Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin, Poland. annagora@galen.imw.lublin.pl
Skórska
Czesława
C
Prazmo
Zofia
Z
Krysińska-Traczyk
Ewa
E
Sitkowska
Jolanta
J
Dutkiewicz
Jacek
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000276:immunology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027582:Humulus; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004731:Endotoxins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha