| 1. |
- Gora, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational exposure to organic dust, microorganisms, endotoxin and peptidoglycan among plants processing workers in Poland
- 2009
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Ingår i: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. - 1898-2263. ; 16:1, s. 143-150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of present work was to determine and compare the components of bioaerosol in several sectors of plant processing industries. The Study was conducted in 10 Facilities engaged in herb and grain processing, flax threshing, grain storing, baking, and cereals production. The air samples were taken on glass fibre litters with an AS-50 sampler. We determined the concentrations of airborne microorganisms, dust, endotoxin and peptidoglycan. Total concentrations of viable airborne microorganisms ranged from 0.18-861.4 x 10(3) cfu/m(3). The highest levels of microbial contamination of the air were observed at flax farms, in grain elevators and in a herb processing plant. Gram-positive bacteria aid fungi were detected at all sampling sites, and their median concentrations were respectively 18.1 x 10(3) cfu/m(3) and 0.66 x 10(3) cfu/m(3). The concentration of Gram-negative bacteria ranged from 0.0-168.0 x 10(3) cfu/m(3). The concentration of thermophilic actinomycetes ranged from 0.0-1.45 x 10(3) cfu/m(3). Qualitatively Gram-positive bacteria constituted 23-93% of the total microbial Count. The most common species were: Staphylococcus spp., Curtobacterium pusillum, Rhodococcus fascians, Aureobacterium testaceum, Sanguibacter keddieii, Microbacterium spp., and Bocillus spp. Gram-negative bacteria formed 0-48% of the total Count. The species Pantoea agglomerans dominated in all examined air samples. Fungi constituted 2.5-76.9% of the total microbial count. Among them, Penicillium spp., Mucor spp., Alternario spp., Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus spp. were found. The dust concentration ranged from 0.18-86.9 mg/m(3). The concentration of endotoxin was large and ranged front 0.0041-1562.6 mu g/m(3). Muramic acid, the chemical marker of peptidoglycan, was detected in 9 out of 13 (69.2%) collected samples. The concentration of peptidoglycan ranged front 1.93-416 ng/m(3). A highly significant correlation was found between the individual components of bioaerosol determined in this study. The concentration of endotoxin was correlated with the concentration of Gram-negative bacteria, total microorganisms, and peptidoglycan (R>0.9, p<0.001). The concentration of peptidoglycan was correlated with the concentration of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and total microorganisms (R>0.9, p<0.001).
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| 2. |
- Larsson, Lennart, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of bacterial and fungal components in tobacco and tobacco smoke.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Tobacco Induced Diseases. - : E.U. European Publishing. - 1617-9625. ; 4:1, s. 4-4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: The microbiological composition of tobacco products was studied using culture and chemical analysis (of tobacco leaves) or chemical analysis only (tobacco and tobacco smoke). The chemical analyses utilized gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for determining 3-hydroxy fatty acids, muramic acid, and ergosterol as markers of respectively lipopolysaccharide (LPS), peptidoglycan, and fungal biomass. Mesophilic bacteria dominated in both fresh and cured tobacco leaves; a range of additional bacteria and fungi were also found albeit in minor amounts. The peptidoglycan and LPS concentrations were approximately the same in tobacco leaves as in cigarette tobacco. The concentrations of the measured microbial components were much lower in some cigarettes locally produced in China, Korea, and Vietnam than in cigarettes of international brands purchased in the same countries, and the concentrations in the smoke were in general agreement with the concentrations in cigarette tobacco. No differences in microbial load in tobacco of "light" and "full flavor" cigarettes were seen. Storing cigarettes at high humidity resulted in elevated levels of fungi in the cigarette tobacco leading to increased ergosterol concentrations in the smoke. The fact that tobacco smoke is a bioaerosol may help to explain the high prevalence of respiratory disorders among smokers and non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke since the same symptoms are also commonly associated with exposure to bioaerosols.
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| 3. |
- Mackiewicz, Barbara, et al.
(författare)
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Respiratory Disorders In Two Workers Of Customs Depositories Occupationally Exposed To Mouldy Tobacco
- 2008
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Ingår i: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. - 1898-2263. ; 15:2, s. 317-322
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Work-related respiratory symptoms, including dyspnoea, cough, fever, tiredness and malaise, were recorded in two customs officers employed in 2 depositories of confiscated cigarettes, of which one showed signs of dampness. Microbiological sampling of the air and the cigarettes stored in a damp depository revealed the presence of potentially pathogenic fungi and bacteria and the biochemical markers of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and fungal biomass. The Penicillium species (P. simplicissimum, P. inflatum, P commune) dominated in the damp depository, while in the other one Aspergillus fumigatus was prevalent. The patients under study did not show a specific sensitization to microbial allergens in the precipitin test, the test for inhibition of leukocyte migration and the bronchial provocation challenge, except for a weak reaction to fungal allergens in the test for inhibition of leukocyte migration. Moreover, one patient responded with subjective symptoms after exposure to inhalation of increased doses of Penicillium simplicissimum antigen. Both cases were diagnosed as a specific form of organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS). It is hypothesized that the symptoms were evoked most probably by the non-specific action of low molecular fungal metabolites, such as mycotoxins or VOCs (volatile organic compounds), with the possible contribution of bacterial endotoxin. However, as there is no a direct proof to support this presumption, and the effects of nicotine and other tobacco constituents cannot be excluded, further studies are needed to elucidate etiopathogenesis of the disorders associated with the exposure to stored tobacco.
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| 4. |
- Pomorska, Dorota, et al.
(författare)
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Levels of bacterial endotoxin in air of animal houses determined with the use of gas chromatography - Mass spectrometry and Limulus test
- 2007
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Ingår i: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. - 1898-2263. ; 14:2, s. 291-298
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Air samples were collected on glass fibre filters in 22 animal houses and 3 hay storage barns and examined for the presence of bacterial endotoxin with the Limulus (LAL) test and the gas chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MSMS) technique, based on detection of 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH-FAs) as chemical markers of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide. The median concentrations of airborne endotoxin determined with LAL test in poultry houses, sheep sheds, piggeries, cow barns, and horse stables were respectively 62.49 mu g/m(3), 26.2 mu g/m(3), 3.8 mu g/m(3), 1.65 mu g/m(3), and 1. 14 mu g/m(3), while those determined with the GC-MSMS technique were respectively 1.06 mu g/m(3), 7.91 mu g/m(3), 0.2 mu g/m(3), 0.31 mu g/m(3), and 1.42 mu g/m(3). The median concentrations of airborne endotoxin determined with LAL test and GC-MSMS technique in hay storage barns were much smaller, 0.09 mu g/m(3) and 0.03 mu g/m(3), respectively. The concentrations of airborne endotoxin (LPS) detected with GC-MSMS method in the air of sheep sheds were significantly greater than in all other examined facilities, while those detected in hay storage barns were significantly smaller than in all other examined facilities (p<0.05). The concentrations of airborne endotoxin determined with LAL test and GC-MSMS analysis exceeded in most of animal houses examined (91% by each method) the threshold limit value for airborne endotoxin of 0.1 mu g/m(3) proposed by various authors. A significant correlation (p<0.05) between the concentrations of endotoxin determined with the LAL and GC-MSMS techniques was found in the air samples collected in poultry houses and sheep sheds, but not in other examined facilities. 3-OH FAs with C-14-C-18 chains were predominant in the air of the facilities under study. A significant correlation (p<0.05) was found between the concentrations of endotoxin determined with LAL test and the amounts of 3-OH FAs with C-14-C-16 chains. In conclusion, endotoxin in the concentrations detected in this study may present a respiratory hazard to both humans and livestock animals.
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| 5. |
- Pomorska, Dorota, et al.
(författare)
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Levels Of Bacterial Endotoxin In The Samples Of Settled Dust Collected In Animal Houses
- 2009
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Ingår i: Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Puławy. - 0042-4870. ; 53:1, s. 37-41
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Samples of settled dust were collected in 14 animal houses and examined for the presence of bacterial endotoxin with the Limulus (LAL) test and the gas chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MSMS) technique, based oil the detection of 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH-FAs) as chemical markers of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide. The median concentrations of the endotoxin in dust determined with LAL test in sheep sheds, poultry houses, and horse stables were 15,687.5 mu g/g, 8,081.8 mu g/g, and 79.3 mu g/g, respectively, while those determined with the GC-MSMS technique were 868.0 mu g/g, 580.0 mu g/g, and 496.0 mu g/g, respectively. Statistical comparison of the results yielded with LAL test and GC-MSMS technique revealed a weak correlation between both methods. Fatty acids with 14-16 carbon chains (3-OH-C-14 and 3-OH-C-16) were predominant in the settled dust of the facilities under study. In conclusion, endotoxin in the concentrations detected in this study may present it respiratory hazard to both livestock animals and farm workers. Thus, the prevention measures aiming to lower the exposure to endotoxin in livestock facilities are highly desirable.
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