Abstract
Occupational bioaerosol exposures are capable to cause respiratory diseases. We studied the relationship between exposure to bioaerosols and biomarkers’ concentration in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in 119 bioaerosol-exposed compost workers taking into account atopy and smoking habits. Atopy was classified according to specific IgE concentrations to common inhalant allergens (sx1). Bioaerosol exposure was estimated according to job title, duration of employment, results of ambient monitoring at the workplaces, and shift time worked under protection of filtered air supply. Concentrations of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and acid-base balance (pH) in EBC and FeNO were assessed in 59 never-smoking (NS) and 60 smoking (S) compost workers. We found that atopic subjects were equally distributed among NS and S (n = 16 each). Levels of 8-iso-PGF2α were significantly higher in workers considered highly exposed to bioaerosols than in low exposed workers (86.6 (66.1; 128.8) pg/mL vs. 74.4 (56.3; 96.7) pg/mL, p = 0.047). No associations could be observed between exposures and biomarkers concerning compost workers in total, but there were some in atopic workers (duration of employment and FeNO: r = 0.376, p = 0.041; filtered air supply and FeNO: r = −0.335, p = 0.071). Smokers had significantly lower pH values compared to NS (non-atopic, p = 0.041; atopic p = 0.050). In conclusion, EBC and FeNO might be useful tools for monitoring of inflammation due to bioaerosol exposures, especially in atopic subjects. Besides smoking also atopy should be considered when investigating airway inflammation.
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Acknowledgement
The study was supported by a grant from the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA, F 2063) and by the German Social Accident Insurance (project IPA-94). The study was conducted with the help of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institution for the public sector in North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, Germany and the German Social Accident Insurance, Institution for Transport and Traffic, Hamburg, Germany. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the laboratory staff Gerda Borowitzki, Susanne Freundt, Ursula Meurer and Heike Stubel and the field staff Marita Kaßen, Nina Rosenkranz, and Anja Molkenthin for their skilful technical assistance. We would like to thank the compost workers for participating in the study and the compost management for their willingness and cooperation.
Competing Interest
All the authors declare that they have no competing interests that might be perceived to influence the results and discussion reported in the present manuscript.
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Hoffmeyer, F. et al. (2015). Evaluation of Airway Inflammation in Compost Workers Exposed to Bioaerosols Using Exhaled Breath Condensate and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide. In: Pokorski, M. (eds) Pulmonary Function. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 858. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2015_111
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2015_111
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