title: Pulmonary function reductions among potentially susceptible subgroups of agricultural workers in Colorado and Nebraska.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Organic dust inhalation has been associated with adverse respiratory responses among agricultural workers. We evaluated factors that may confer increased susceptibility to these health effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We quantified personal work shift exposures to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and its 3-hydroxy fatty acid constituents, and evaluated changes in pulmonary function among 137 grain elevator, cattle feedlot, dairy, and corn farm workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased dust exposure was associated with work shift reductions in lung function. Although interpretation is limited because of small samples, a suggestion of stronger exposure-response relationships was observed among smokers, as well as workers reporting pesticide/herbicide application, asthma, or allergies, and those with genetic polymorphisms (TLR4) (Pinteraction ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A better understanding of factors leading to increased susceptibility of adverse respiratory outcomes is needed to optimize exposure reduction strategies and develop more comprehensive wellness programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO 80523, USA. Stephen.Reynolds@Colostate.edu
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Maggie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koehncke
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: von Essen
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehaffy
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cranmer
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Ivana V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Burch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D002417:Cattle; D003120:Colorado; D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D004731:Endotoxins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010575:Pesticides; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4