title: Effects of bioaerosol exposure on respiratory health in compost workers: a 13-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the risk of German compost workers developing chronic respiratory effects from long-term exposure to bioaerosols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respiratory health was determined in 74 currently exposed compost workers and 37 non-exposed controls after 13 years of follow-up. In addition, 42 former compost workers (drop-outs) who left their work during the follow-up period were also examined. Respiratory symptoms and working conditions were assessed using identical questionnaires as at baseline. In addition, lung function was measured using the same spirometer as in the initial study. Sera from both surveys were tested for specific IgE and IgG antibodies to moulds and the risk of work-related symptoms was evaluated using regression approaches for prospective studies with binary data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the follow-up period, the number of participants reporting cough significantly increased in compost workers and drop-outs compared to the controls. Working as a compost worker for at least 5 years increased the relative risk for cough (RR 1.28; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.4) and for cough with phlegm (RR 1.32; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.5). Current and former compost workers had slightly lower predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and predicted percentage of forced vital capacity than controls, but decrease in lung function during follow-up was not different among the 3 groups. In addition, no significant changes could be detected in antibody concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that chronic exposure to bioaerosols in composting plants is related to a significantly higher risk for cough with phlegm, indicating chronic bronchitis. However, compost workers showed no higher incidence of deterioration of pulmonary function over the study.
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: van Kampen
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Hoffmeyer
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Deckert
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Kendzia
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Casjens
authors: German Social Accident Insurance, Institution for the public sector in North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: H D
authors: HD
authors: Neumann
authors: German Social Accident Insurance, Institution for the public sector in North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Buxtrup
authors: BG Verkehr, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Willer
authors: BG Verkehr, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Felten
authors: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Berlin, Germany.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Schöneich
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Brüning
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Raulf
authors: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bünger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005658:Fungi; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012137:Respiratory System; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012987:Soil; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012987:Soil; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Bioaerosol exposure; Compost workers; Respiratory health