Health effects among workers in sewage treatment plants
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To further assess the presence of fatigue, symptoms of diarrhoea, and inflammation of airways among people working in sewage plants and the relation to airborne bacterial endotoxin at the workplace. METHODS: 34 Employees in sewage treatment plants and 35 controls were selected. They underwent a questionnaire investigation, and spirometry and airway responsiveness were measured. Measurements were made of airborne endotoxin at different workplaces. RESULTS: The amount of airborne endotoxin varied between 3.8 and 32,170 ng/m3. Workers reported significantly higher nose irritation, tiredness, and diarrhoea. Airway responsiveness was increased among sewage workers, but no differences between the groups were found for spirometry. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm previous studies on the presence of airways and intestinal inflammation among workers in sewage treatment plants. The most likely causative agent is endotoxin, and at 14 of 23 workplaces, concentrations exceeded recommended guidelines.
Key Biomarkers
Symptom Clusters
Cited By (7)
- Review: Endotoxin in the environment — exposure and effectsJournal of Endotoxin Research · 2002
- Pulmonary Exposure to 1→3-β-Glucan Alters Adaptive Immune Responses in RatsInhalation Toxicology · 2006
- Work-related symptoms and inflammation among sewage plant operativesInternational Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health · 2004
- Endotoxin exposure and symptoms in wastewater treatment workersAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine · 2005
- Health complaints from workplace exposure to bioaerosols: a questionnaire study in sewage workersPubMed · 2004
- Assessment of Wastewater Treatment Plant Workers Exposed to BiosolidsAAOHN Journal · 2006
- Work-related symptoms in sewage treatment workersPubMed · 2001
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