Workplace determinants of endotoxin exposure in dental healthcare facilities in South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
Aerosols generated during dental procedures have been reported to contain endotoxin as a result of bacterial contamination of dental unit water lines. This study investigated the determinants of airborne endotoxin exposure in dental healthcare settings.


METHODS
The study population included dental personnel (n = 454) from five academic dental institutions in South Africa. Personal air samples (n = 413) in various dental jobs and water samples (n = 403) from dental handpieces and basin taps were collected. The chromogenic-1000 limulus amebocyte lysate assay was used to determine endotoxin levels. Exposure metrics were developed on the basis of individually measured exposures and average levels within each job category. Analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression models were constructed to ascertain the determinants of exposure in the dental group.


RESULTS
There was a 2-fold variation in personal airborne endotoxin from the least exposed (administration) to the most exposed (laboratory) jobs (geometric mean levels: 2.38 versus 5.63 EU m(-3)). Three percent of personal samples were above DECOS recommended exposure limit (50 EU m(-3)). In the univariate linear models, the age of the dental units explained the most variability observed in the personal air samples (R(2) = 0.20, P < 0.001), followed by the season of the year (R(2) = 0.11, P < 0.001). Other variables such as institution and total number of dental units per institution also explained a modest degree of variability. A multivariate model explaining the greatest variability (adjusted R(2) = 0.40, P < 0.001) included: the age of institution buildings, total number of dental units per institution, ambient temperature, ambient air velocity, endotoxin levels in water, job category (staff versus students), dental unit model type and age of dental unit.


CONCLUSIONS
Apart from job type, dental unit characteristics are important predictors of airborne endotoxin levels in this setting.
Singh
Tanusha S
TS
Immunology and Microbiology Section, National Institute for Occupational Health, PO Box 4788, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa. tanusha.singh@nioh.nhls.ac.za
Bello
Braimoh
B
Mabe
Onnicah D
OD
Renton
Kevin
K
Jeebhay
Mohamed F
MF
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003748:Dental Equipment / Q000382:microbiology; D003749:Dental Facilities; D003797:Dental Staff; D003813:Dentistry; D003815:Dentists; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008834:Microclimate; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013019:South Africa; D014871:Water Microbiology; D017132:Workplace
D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004731:Endotoxins