Cotton dust and endotoxin exposure-response relationships in cotton textile workers
Endotoxin exposure has been implicated in the etiology of lung disease in cotton workers. We investigated this potential relationship in 443 cotton workers from 2 factories in Shanghai and 439 control subjects from a nearby silk mill. A respiratory questionnaire was administered and pre- and postshift forced expiratory volume (FVC) and flow in one second (FEV1) were determined for each worker. Multiple area air samples were analyzed for total elutriated dust concentration (range: 0.15 to 2.5 mg/m3) and endotoxin (range: 0.002 to 0.55 microgram U.S. Reference Endotoxin/m3). The cotton worker population was stratified by current and cumulative dust or endotoxin exposure. Groups were compared for FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC%, % change in FEV1 over the shift (delta FEV1%), and prevalences of chronic bronchitis and byssinosis, and linear and logistic regression models were constructed. No dose-response relationships were demonstrated comparing dust concentration to any pulmonary function or symptom variable. A dose-response trend was seen with the current endotoxin level and FEV1, delta FEV1%, and the prevalence of byssinosis and chronic bronchitis, except for the highest exposure level group in which a reversal of the trend was seen. The regression coefficients for current endotoxin exposure were significant (p less than 0.05) in the models for FEV1 and chronic bronchitis but not in the models for delta FEV1% (i.e., acute change in FEV1) or byssinosis prevalence. The coefficient for dust level was never significant in the models.
- Research Organization:
- Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
- OSTI ID:
- 6806348
- Journal Information:
- Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN ARDSB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) testimony to DOL (Department of Labor) on proposed standard for occupational exposure to cotton dust, by R. Lemen, September 21, 1983
Environmental and medical study of byssinosis and other respiratory conditions in the cotton textile industry in Egypt
Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550900 -- Pathology
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANTIGENS
ASIA
CHINA
COTTON
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENDOTOXINS
ETIOLOGY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
STATISTICS
TEXTILE INDUSTRY
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXICITY
TOXINS