Acute blood neutrophilia induced by short-term compost dust exposure in previously unexposed healthy individuals.
OBJECTIVE
Systemic effects of organic dust inhalation have been described in farming environments. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a single exposure at a biowaste composting facility could also exert systemic effects in healthy volunteers not previously exposed to organic dust from such facilities.


METHODS
Seventeen subjects (age 20-35 years) were exposed to organic dust for 2 h (exposure day) during moderate exercise; 12 of these subjects also took part in a control experiment (control day). Spirometry was performed before and immediately after the exposure. White blood cell counts and levels of tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peripheral blood were determined before and 3 h after exposure.


RESULTS
Exposures did not result in significant changes in lung function or blood cytokine levels. In contrast, the number and percentage of neutrophils increased during the exposure day [median (range) percent change of percentages 14 (-2; 67) %; P=0.002], but not during the control day [5 (-22; 35) %; P=0.66). Furthermore, there was a decrease in the number and percentage of eosinophils during the exposure day [-47 (-57; 0.0) %; P=0.002], whereas the change during the control day was smaller [-8 (-56; 71) %; P=0.68].


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term exposure of healthy, young subjects to organic dust from composting facilities had opposite effects on the numbers of blood neutrophils and blood eosinophils. These effects, though mild, suggest that even during a limited period of moderate work a sufficient amount of bioactive material can be deposited in the lung to elicit acute systemic alterations.
Müller
Tim
T
Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Jörres
Rudolf A
RA
Scharrer
Eva Maria
EM
Hessel
Harald
H
Nowak
Dennis
D
Radon
Katja
K
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007960:Leukocyte Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012987:Soil
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D007378:Interleukins; D012987:Soil