title: Occupational Exposure to Bioaerosols in Norwegian Crab Processing Plants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aerosolization of components when processing king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) and edible crab (Cancer pagurus) may cause occupational health problems when inhaled by workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in three king crab plants and one edible crab plant. Personal exposure measurements were performed throughout work shifts. Air was collected for measurement of tropomyosin, total protein, endotoxin, trypsin, and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAGase). T-tests and ANOVAs were used to compare the levels of exposure in the different plants and areas in the plants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total protein and tropomyosin levels were highest in the edible crab plant, endotoxin levels were highest in king crab plants. King crab exposure levels were highest during raw processing. Tropomyosin levels were highest during raw king crab processing with geometric mean (GM) 9.6 versus 2.5ng m(-3) during cooked processing. Conversely, edible crab tropomyosin levels were highest during cooked processing with GM 45.4 versus 8.7ng m(-3) during raw processing. Endotoxin levels were higher in king crab plants than in the edible crab plant with GM = 6285.5 endotoxin units (EU) m(-3) versus 72 EU m(-3). In the edible crab plant, NAGase levels were highest during raw processing with GM = 853 pmol4-methylumbelliferone (MU) m(-3) versus 422 pmol4-MU m(-3) during cooked processing. Trypsin activity was found in both king crab and edible crab plants and levels were higher in raw than cooked processing. Differences in exposure levels between plants and worker groups (raw and cooked processing) were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Norwegian crab processing workers are exposed to airborne proteins, tropomyosin, endotoxins, trypsin, and NAGase in their breathing zone. Levels vary between worker groups and factories.
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital North Norway, Sykehusvegen 38, 9019 Tromsø, Norway; 2.Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; marte.renate.thomassen@unn.no.
authors.forename: Marte R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Thomassen
authors.affiliation: 3.Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Bldg 47 (Pharmacy and Medical Research), James Cook Drive, Douglas, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
authors.forename: Sandip D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.affiliation: 3.Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Bldg 47 (Pharmacy and Medical Research), James Cook Drive, Douglas, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia;
authors.forename: Andreas L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lopata
authors.affiliation: 4.National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 København Ø, Copenhagen, Denmark;
authors.forename: Anne Mette
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.affiliation: 5.Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, STAMI National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas vei 8, 0363 Oslo, Norway;
authors.forename: Wijnand
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eduard
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital North Norway, Sykehusvegen 38, 9019 Tromsø, Norway; 6.Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Berit E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital North Norway, Sykehusvegen 38, 9019 Tromsø, Norway; 6.Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aasmoe
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D009664:Norway; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012758:Shellfish
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols
keywords: NAGase; bioaerosol quantification; crab processing; endotoxins; occupational health; protein; tropomyosin; trypsin