Respiratory inflammation among workers exposed to airborne dust with endotoxins in a coffee curing factory.
OBJECTIVE
To study dust exposure and inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract among coffee curing workers in Tanzania.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tanzanian coffee curing factory. Coffee workers (n = 15) were compared with unexposed controls (n = 18); all workers were nonsmokers. Exhaled nitric oxide was examined using an electrochemistry-based NIOX MINO device. Personal air samples were analyzed for total dust and endotoxins, using gravimetric analysis and the chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate endpoint assay, respectively.


RESULTS
Total dust levels ranged from 0.2 to 27.9 mg/m, and endotoxin levels ranged from 42 to 75,083 endotoxin units/m. Concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide, analyzed by linear regression and adjusted for age (β = 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.08 to 1.06; P = 0.02), was higher among coffee workers than among the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate a relationship between the coffee dust and signs of respiratory inflammation.
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care and Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. bente.moen@isf.uib.no
Bente E
BE
Moen
Gloria
G
Sakwari
Simon H D
SH
Mamuya
Akwilina V
AV
Kayumba
Lennart
L
Larsson
Christina
C
Pehrson
Yohana J
YJ
Mashalla
Magne
M
Bråtveit
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D040503:Coffea / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D009569:Nitric Oxide