Article citationsMore>>

Burch, J.B., Svendsen, E., Siegel, P.D., Wagner, S.E., von Essen, S., Keefe, T., Mehaffy, J., Martinez, A.S., Brdford, M., Baker, L., Cranmer, B., Saito, R., Tessari, J., Linda, P., Andersen, C., Christensen, P., Koehncke, N. and Reynolds, S.J. (2010) Endotoxin Exposure and Inflammation Markers among Agricultural Workers in Colorado and Nebraska. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 73, 5-22.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15287390903248604

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Occupational Exposure to Endotoxin in PM2.5 and Pre- and Post-Shift Lung Function in California Dairy Workers

  AUTHORS: Veronica E. Arteaga, Diane C. Mitchell, Georg E. Matt, Penelope J. E. Quintana, Joshua Schaeffer, Stephen J. Reynolds, Marc B. Schenker, Frank M. Mitloehner

  KEYWORDS: Agriculture, Particulate Matter, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, Respiratory Health

  JOURNAL NAME: Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol.6 No.5, May 26, 2015

  ABSTRACT: Individual exposures to particulate matter and endotoxin in dairies have increased as operations have transitioned to larger herd sizes. A cross-sectional study at 13 California dairies and one non-dairy control facility was conducted to determine associations between endotoxin concentrations measured in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and respiratory function in these workers. Previous research found that dairy work was associated with acute airway obstruction in comparison to controls. While endotoxin levels in PM2.5 have been previously reported, their effects on lung function have not been studied among California dairy workers. This paper also examined correlations with PM2.5 concentration, inhalable particulate matter (IPM), and endotoxin in IPM. Personal samples collected from a total of 185 dairy workers and 45 control workers were included in the analyses. Findings showed that dairy facilities had higher (p 2.5 when compared with the control facility (3.3 EU/m3, 0.6 EU/m3, respectively). Endotoxin in PM2.5 was weakly correlated with PM2.5 concentration (r2 = 0.16, p 2 = 0.35, p 2.5 endotoxin exposure was associated with lower crossshift in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) only among taller workers (p = 0.006). This is the first study to present personal occupational exposures to endotoxin in PM2.5 measured on Californian dairies. Despite lower levels than in other industries, such as poultry farms, this study suggests that some workers may be affected, and efforts should be aimed at mitigating pollutants in order to maintain endotoxin concentrations below recommended levels.