Change in airway responsiveness over a workweek in organic waste loaders.
OBJECTIVE
Organic waste workers are exposed to high endotoxin levels that may result in respiratory health effects. This study describes changes in lung function and methacholine airway responsiveness over a workweek in household organic waste loaders.


METHODS
Assessment of lung function and methacholine airway responsiveness before and after a workweek in six organic waste loaders with and ten loaders without regular respiratory symptoms. Methacholine responsiveness was expressed as dose-response slope, i.e. % fall in FEV(1) per mg methacholine compared to either the post-saline value (DRS(sal)), or the highest FEV(1) (DRS(max)).


RESULTS
Monday morning, FEV(1) was similar in cases and controls. Over the workweek, FEV(1) and MMEF decreased slightly in both cases and controls (P > 0.10). In contrast, DRS increased in cases and decreased in control subjects (P < 0.10). The difference in % change of DRS was statistically significant after adjustment for smoking and age.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest exaggeration of pre-existent airway inflammation during the workweek in organic waste loaders with regular respiratory symptoms. This needs confirmation in larger studies.
de Meer
Gea
G
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Environmental and Occupational Health, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. G.de.Meer@med.UMCG.nl
Heederik
Dick
D
Wouters
Inge M
IM
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012722:Sewage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012722:Sewage; D016210:Methacholine Chloride