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The effects of agricultural dusts on human health in Shanghai area.

Shen E; Ye T; Dai Q; Zhou M; Lu L

Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108, 1990 Nov; (Part II):877-878

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/90-108/

00198672

Epidemiological studies of the health effects of occupational exposure to agricultural dusts were conducted in the Shanghai area of China. The cohort consisted of 349 rice processors, 259 tea workers, 746 rice farmers, and 497 mushroom farmers. Total dust concentrations ranged from 2.3 to 36.4mg/m3 in the tea mills and 13.2 to 76.9mg/m3 in the rice processing mills. Mushroom compost contained 1.07x10(4) to 4.39x10(5) Thermoactinomycetes colony forming units (CFUs) per gram. Air Thermoactinomycetes concentrations in the mushroom cultivation areas ranged from 262 to 3276CFU per cubic meter. The prevalence of mucous membrane symptoms ranged from 0.8% in mushroom farmers to 63.4% in the tea workers. The prevalence of grain fever in rice processors and rice farmers was 17.5 and 5.1%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant. The prevalence of farmer's lung in rice farmers was 3.5%. The prevalence of mushroom workers' lung in mushroom farmers was 5.8%. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was highest in male and female rice processors, 17.7 and 9.9%, respectively. One second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and mid expiratory flow (FEF25/75) decreased significantly over a shift in female tea workers. FEV1, FVC, and FEF25/75 decreased significantly over the cultivation season in mushroom farmers. Serum immunoglobulin-E concentrations were significantly elevated in tea workers. Precipitating antibodies against Thermoactinomycetes- vulgaris and T-candidus were detected in the mushroom workers. The authors conclude that exposure to agricultural dusts is a significant health problem for agricultural workers in the Shanghai area.

Organic dusts; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Agricultural workers; Respiratory system disorders; Microorganisms; Respiratory hypersensitivity; Immune reaction; Industrial hygiene; Pulmonary function tests

19901101

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

1991

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108

Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

PA