epiglucan and Cough

Four sawmills, a wood chipping mill, and five joineries in New South Wales, Australia, were studied for the effects of personal exposure to wood dust, endotoxins. (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi on lung function among woodworkers.. Personal inhalable and respirable dust sampling was carried out. The lung function tests of workers were conducted before and after a workshift.. The mean percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function was markedly high for woodworkers compared with the controls. Dose-response relationships among personal exposures and percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function and percentage predicted lung function were more pronounced among joinery workers compared with sawmill and chip mill workers. Woodworkers had markedly high prevalence of regular cough, phlegm, and chronic bronchitis compared with controls. Significant associations were found between percentage cross-shift decrease in FVC and regular phlegm and blocked nose among sawmill and chip mill workers. Both joinery workers and sawmill and chip mill workers showed significant relationships between percentage predicted lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%) and respiratory symptoms.. Wood dust and biohazards associated with wood dust are potential health hazards and should be controlled.

Topics: Adult; Air Microbiology; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Ascomycota; beta-Glucans; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Cough; Dust; Endotoxins; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Glucans; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Hazardous Substances; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; Nasal Obstruction; New South Wales; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Prevalence; Sputum; Vital Capacity; Wood

This study investigated two schools, one of which had previous mold problems. Pupils aged 6 to 13 yr were investigated using a questionnaire on symptoms and a skin prick test. The amount of airborne (1--> 3)-beta-D-glucan was measured in the classrooms. The levels were significantly higher in the problem school than in the control school (15.3 versus 2.9 ng/m3). The extent of respiratory as well as general symptoms was higher among the pupils in the problem school. Among the atopics, the extent of symptoms of dry cough, cough with phlegm, and hoarseness was similar to the nonatopics in the control school, but significantly higher in the problem school. The results suggest that (1--> 3)-beta-D-glucan, either by itself or as an indicator of molds, is a risk indicator of airways inflammation.

Topics: Adolescent; Air Pollutants; Child; Cough; Fungi; Glucans; Hoarseness; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Incidence; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Risk Factors; Schools; Skin Tests; Sputum; Surveys and Questionnaires