title: Personal exposure to inhalable dust and the specific latex aero-allergen, Hev b6.02, in latex glove manufacturing in Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Latex product manufacturing is an important industry in south-east Asia but has the potential for considerable occupational exposure of workers to latex allergens. Although exposure to latex allergens can result in adverse health reactions, few studies to characterize this exposure have been conducted to date. This study therefore aimed to characterize current airborne inhalable dust and the specific allergen, Hev b 6.02, exposures in this industry in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Workers were recruited from three factories in the southern part of Thailand. Full-shift inhalable dust personal air sampling was conducted using IOM sampling heads equipped with polytetrafluoroethylene filters at a 2.0 l min(-1) flowrate. After weighing to determine inhalable dust levels, filters were extracted and analysed for Hev b 6.02 using an enzyme immunometric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and seventy-five workers agreed to participate, resulting in a total of 292 measurements. Geometric mean (GM) personal exposure to inhalable dust was 0.88 mg m(-3), but individual exposures up to 12.34 mg m(-3) were measured. The pattern of exposure was similar across factories, with highest exposures in the stripping (GM 2.08-4.05 mg m(-3) for the 3 factories) and tumbling departments (1.11-2.17 mg m(-3)). Within-worker (day-to-day) variability contributed 92% to total variability. The Hev b 6.02 exposure pattern was similar with time-weighted average GM exposure levels in the oldest factory ranging from 8.7 mg m(-3) in the laboratory to 30.2mg m(-3) in the stripping department. In contrast to inhalable dust exposure, total exposure variability was primary driven by variability between workers (67%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workers in these latex product factories get routinely exposed to measurable Hev b 6.02 levels, which may give rise to increased incidence of allergic symptoms and occupational asthma. Also, in this measurement campaign a 10mg m(-3), but not 15 mg m(-3), occupational exposure limit for inhalable dust was occasionally exceeded. Highest Hev b 6.02 exposures were found in the stripping and tumbling departments, which would be natural targets for interventions aimed at reducing exposure.
authors.affiliation: 1.Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Centre for Epidemiology, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK 2.Occupational Safety and Health Standard Development Group, Occupational Safety and Health Bureau, Department of Labour protection and Welfare, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nuthchyawach
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sanguanchaiyakrit
authors.affiliation: 1.Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Centre for Epidemiology, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Povey
authors.affiliation: 1.Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Centre for Epidemiology, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK frank.devocht@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Vocht
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000032:analysis*; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000485:Allergens; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D004391:Dust; D007840:Latex; D037121:Plant Lectins; C045875:hevein
keywords: allergens; allergy; glove manufacturing; hev b 6.02; inhalable dust; latex allergens; latex gloves; latex products; occupational asthma; occupational exposure; occupational hygiene