Health risks due to coffee dust.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed current health risks due to occupational exposure to coffee dust.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional study in a coffee haulage company (n = 24), a coffee silo (n = 19), and a decaffeinating company (n = 17). Cross-shift and cross-week case histories of these employees as well as lung function values were recorded. During the handling of green coffee, measurements of airborne dust were conducted.


RESULTS
The employees in these workplaces were mainly affected by erythematous and rhinoconjunctival symptoms. They occurred especially in subjects exposed to a high dust load (> 10 mg of inhalable dust per cubic meter of air; n = 28) [Pearson chi(2) test, p = 0.020 and p = 0.023]. IgE antibodies to green coffee and castor beans were detected in 3 workers and 10 workers, respectively. The majority of them (two employees and six employees, respectively) had shown respiratory symptoms during the past 12 months. The preshift lung function values were below average but were not dependent on the level of the inhalable coffee dust exposure. Employees with a coffee dust load > 10 mg/m(3) of air showed higher unspecific bronchial responsiveness more frequently than those with lower exposures.


CONCLUSIONS
During the transshipment (especially during unloading) of green coffee, a high and clinically relevant exposure to irritative and sensitizing dust occurs. Therefore, efforts to reduce these dust exposures are generally recommended.
Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg State Department for Social Affairs, Family, Health and Consumer Protection, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: marcus.oldenburg@bsg.hamburg.de.
Marcus
M
Oldenburg
Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg State Department for Social Affairs, Family, Health and Consumer Protection, Hamburg, Germany.
Cordula
C
Bittner
Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg State Department for Social Affairs, Family, Health and Consumer Protection, Hamburg, Germany.
Xaver
X
Baur
D000328:Adult; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011336:Probability; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012882:Skin Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003069:Coffee; D004391:Dust