REVIEW PAPER
Relationship between concentrations of microbiological agents in the air of agricultural settings and occurrence of work-related symptoms in exposed persons
1
Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Allergology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
2
Department of Biological Health Hazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2015;22(3):473-477
KEYWORDS
agricultural settingsbioaerosolwork-related symptomsrelationshiptotal microorganismsmesophilic bacteriaGram-negative bacteriaendotoxins
ABSTRACT
For assessment of the dose-response relationship between concentrations of microbial agents in the air of various
agricultural settings and occurrence of work-related symptoms in exposed workers, a meta-analysis of the results obtained
in 1994–2007 on the territory of eastern Poland was performed. The studies on the airborne concentrations of total
culturable microorganisms, mesophilic bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, thermophilic actinomycetes, fungi, and bacterial
endotoxins, as well as on the frequency of work-related respiratory and general symptoms in the exposed workers, were
carried out at grain, thyme, valerian, flax, and hop handling on farms, in cow barns, piggeries, horse stables and in a
modern hatchery. The airborne concentrations of the total microorganisms were in the range of 9.2–1236.5 × 103 CFU/m3,
of the total mesophilic bacteria 3.5–1225.8 × 103 CFU/m3, of Gram-negative bacteria 0.0- 46.2 × 103 CFU/m3, of thermophilic
actinomycetes 0.0–7.1 × 103CFU/m3, of fungi 2.1–77.9 × 103 CFU/m3, and of bacterial endotoxin 0.00925–429.55 µg/m3. The
frequency of work-related symptoms ranged between 21.7–63.8%. In a meta-analysis for assessment of the correlations
between the log-transformed concentrations of airborne microbial agents and the occurrence of work-related symptoms,
the multiple regression test was applied. Statistically significant correlations were found between the occurrence of work-
related symptoms and the concentration of total airborne microorganisms (R=0.748555; P=0.020317), mesophilic bacteria
(R=0.7573; P=0.029548), Gram-negative bacteria (R=0.835938; P=0.019129), and endotoxins (R=0.705356; P=0.03378). The
correlations between the concentrations of thermophilic actinomycetes and fungi, on one side, and frequency of work-related
symptoms on the other, did not attain the threshold of significance (P=0.087049 and P=0.062963, respectively). Results of
the meta-analysis confirm harmful health effects of the total airborne microorganisms, total airborne mesophilic bacteria,
airborne Gram-negative bacteria, and airborne bacterial endotoxin on the occupationally-exposed agricultural workers, and
indicate a need for the establishment of internationally recognized occupational exposure limits for these microbial agents.
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