humulene and Respiration-Disorders

While little is known about the occupational hazards associated with Cannabis cultivation, both historical research in the hemp industry and preliminary data from modern grow houses, suggest that Cannabis workers may be at increased risk of respiratory and allergic diseases.. We sought to investigate the association between workplace exposures and health symptoms in an indoor Cannabis grow facility in Washington State, USA.. We performed a cross-sectional study with all consenting employees in an indoor Cannabis grow facility in Seattle, WA using a questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered data on respiratory, ocular, nasal, and dermal symptoms. A subset of employees with work-related symptoms underwent repeated cross-shift and cross-week measurement of spirometry, fractional exhaled nitrogen oxide (FeNO), and skin prick testing for Cannabis sensitization. Exposure to Cannabis dust was classified based on self-described tasks, expert opinion, and exposure monitoring of particulate matter. Multivariable logistic regression was undertaken to examine associations between exposure to Cannabis dust (classified as low, medium, and high) and health symptoms. Linear mixed effects models examined the relationship between cross-shift and cross-week changes in spirometry and FeNO.. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of the employees (n = 31) surveyed were recreational cannabis users, with 81% (n = 25) smoking cannabis multiple times per day. Twenty-two (71%) employees reported one or more work-related symptoms: 65% respiratory, 39% ocular, 32% nasal, and 26% dermal symptoms. There was a trend toward increased likelihood of work-related symptoms with increasing exposure to Cannabis dust, although none of these results were statistically significant. Of the 10 employees with work-aggravated symptoms, 5 had borderline-high or high FeNO, 7 had abnormal spirometry, and 5 had evidence of Cannabis sensitization on skin prick testing. FeNO increased by 3.78 ppb (95% confidence interval 0.68-6.88 ppb) across the work-week and there was a trend toward cross-week and cross-shift reduced airflow.. We found a high prevalence of work-related allergic- and particularly respiratory symptoms in the employees of one indoor Cannabis grow facility in Washington State. A high proportion of employees with work-aggravated symptoms had findings consistent with probable work-related asthma based on high FeNO, airflow obstruction on spirometry, and Cannabis sensitization on skin prick testing. However, due to the high incidence of recreational cannabis use among these workers, the relative influence of occupational versus recreational exposure to Cannabis dust on the respiratory health and sensitization status of these workers could not be resolved in this study.

Topics: Adult; Cannabis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dust; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Occupational Exposure; Respiration Disorders

The cultivation and processing of industrial hemp, Cannabis sativa L., is a developing industry in Australia. Exposure to hemp dust is demonstrated as producing reactive and respiratory health effects, potentially causing permanent lung disease or damage. The aim of this study was to assess the airborne organic dust concentrations generated in an Australian hemp processing facility. Personal sampling, in the breathing zone of exposed workers was undertaken for exposure to respirable dust, along with parallel static sampling for airborne concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust fractions. Both static and personal sampling showed that respirable dust concentrations (mg m-3) exceeded the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) recommended maximum exposure limit of 1 mg m-3 (respirable fraction) for dusts not otherwise specified, with mean exposures (mg m-3) of M = 1.33, standard deviation (SD) = 1.09 (range 0.07-3.67 mg m-3) and M = 4.49, SD = 4.49 (range 0.77-11.08 mg m-3). The results of the investigation indicate that workers in the hemp processing industry are at risk of developing permanent and disabling respiratory disease due to high dust exposure. There is no Australian occupational exposure limit specifically for hemp dust. It is recommended further research is needed and industry-specific guidance material or model code of practice developed to effectively control exposures.

Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Australia; Cannabis; Dust; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Occupational Exposure; Respiration Disorders

The use of electronic cigarettes (vaping), especially with marijuana, has become increasingly popular among adults.. The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study Wave 4 data on 33 606 adult participants who indicated ever using electronic cigarettes were included in the study. By controlling for confounding variables (such as age and smoking history), multivariable weighted logistic regression models were used to examine the cross-sectional association between lifetime e-cigarette use with or without marijuana and self-reported past 12-month respiratory symptoms as well as lifetime respiratory diseases.. Compared to adults who never vaped, adults who had ever vaped with marijuana had a significantly higher association with self-reported past 12-month respiratory symptoms but not lifetime respiratory diseases. Compared to adults who had ever vaped without marijuana, adults who had ever vaped at least sometimes with marijuana had a significantly greater risk of having wheezing/whistling in the chest (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.44), chest sounded wheezy during or after exercise (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.93), and had a dry cough at night (aOR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.57), while adults who had ever vaped rarely with marijuana had a significantly greater risk of having wheezing/whistling in the chest (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.61), chest sounded wheezy during or after exercise (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.52), and had a dry cough at night (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.47).. Lifetime e-cigarette use with marijuana is associated with self-reported past 12-month respiratory symptoms in adults.. The use of e-cigarettes with marijuana has become prevalent in recent years. Our cross-sectional study suggests that there may be respiratory health symptoms associated with ever vaping with marijuana that is independent of nicotine vaping, which should raise public awareness of potential health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes with marijuana. Further longitudinal studies on the respiratory health effects of e-cigarette use with marijuana are warranted.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cannabis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Respiration Disorders; Self Report; Tobacco Use; United States; Vaping; Young Adult

Smoking cannabis is associated with symptoms of bronchitis. Little is known about the persistence of symptoms after stopping cannabis use. We assessed associations between changes in cannabis use and respiratory symptoms in a population-based cohort of 1037 young adults. Participants were asked about cannabis and tobacco use at ages 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38 years. Symptoms of morning cough, sputum production, wheeze, dyspnoea on exertion and asthma diagnoses were ascertained at the same ages. Frequent cannabis use was defined as ≥52 occasions over the previous year. Associations between frequent cannabis use and respiratory symptoms were analysed using generalised estimating equations with adjustments for tobacco smoking, asthma, sex and age. Frequent cannabis use was associated with morning cough (OR 1.97, p<0.001), sputum production (OR 2.31, p<0.001) and wheeze (OR 1.55, p<0.001). Reducing or quitting cannabis use was associated with reductions in the prevalence of cough, sputum and wheeze to levels similar to nonusers.Frequent cannabis use is associated with symptoms of bronchitis in young adults. Reducing cannabis use often leads to a resolution of these symptoms.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bronchitis; Cannabis; Cough; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Marijuana Smoking; New Zealand; Prevalence; Respiration; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Sounds; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco Use Disorder; Young Adult

Topics: Cannabis; Female; Humans; Male; Marijuana Smoking; Respiration Disorders; Smoking

Topics: Automobile Driving; Cannabis; Cognition Disorders; Humans; Marijuana Abuse; Prevalence; Psychomotor Performance; Public Health; Respiration Disorders; Schizophrenia

Thirty chronic hashish smokers (mean age-20 years) with respiratory symptoms and six control subjects who were nonhashish smokers were evaluated by history, physical examination, bronchoscopy, and bronchial biopsy. Twenty-three (23) of 23 (100 percent) patients who smoked hashish plus cigarettes had one or more histopathologic abnormalities of basal cell hyperplasia, atypical cells, or squamous cell metaplasia. Only one of seven (28.6 percent) hashish smokers who smoked cigarettes, one of three (33.3 percent) cigarette smokers who smoked no hashish, and zero of three (0 percent) nonsmokers showed one or more of the same histopathologic lesions (p less than .05). Hashish smoking when combined with cigarette smoking appeared to have more deleterious pulmonary effects than either hashish or cigarettes smoked alone, and the abnormal histopathologic lesions found in these smokers are identical to those frequently associated with later development of emphysema and carcinoma of the lung.

Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Bronchi; Cannabis; Humans; Lung; Male; Respiration Disorders; Smoking; Trachea

Topics: Cannabis; Dura Mater; Dust; Humans; Occupational Medicine; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Infections