Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Organic dust disease of airways

  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Exposure to aerosols of organic dusts such as coffee, tea, spices, soy, fur, and animal food in an occupational setting can affect the respiratory health of industrial workers. Based on our experience with workers from many small industries processing organic materials, we discuss the clinical features and possible mechanisms responsible for the respiratory impairment associated with these types of dust exposure. Significantly higher prevalences for most chronic respiratory symptoms were found among exposed workers than among control workers. Smoking appears to aggravate these symptoms. A large number of exposed workers complained of acute symptoms which developed during the work shift. In exposed workers, significant across-shift reductions in lung function were recorded for all spirometric tests, but particularly for the flow rates at 50% and 25% of vital capacity on maximum expiratory flow-volume curves. Comparison of preshift measured ventilatory capacity tests with predicted normal values indicates that these workers demonstrate obstructive changes affecting primarily flow rate at low lung volumes. The data suggest that exposure to organic aerosols in industrial settings, particularly in conjunction with smoking, may be associated with the development of chronic obstructive lung disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen J, Cooper D, Merrill WW, Buck MG, Schachter EN (1986) The relationship between bronchoalveolar neutrophil recruitment and bronchoconstriction induced by a soluble extract of cotton bracts. Am Rev Respir Dis 134:975–982

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck GJ, Schachter EN, Maunder I (1984) Cotton dust and smoking effect on lung function in cotton textile workers. Am J Epidemiol 119:35–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouhuys A, Lindell SE (1961) Release of histamine by dust extracts in vitro. Experientia 17:211–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouhuys A, Zuskin E (1976) Chronic respiratory disease in hemp workers. Ann Intern Med 84:398–405

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boushey HA, Holtzman MJ, Sheller JR, Nadel JA (1980) Bronchial hyperreactivity 121:389–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Brand PLP, Rijcken B, Schouten JP, Koeter GH, Weiss ST, Postma DS (1992) Perception of airway obstruction in a random population sample. Am Rev Respir Dis 146:396–401

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SM (1985a) Occupational asthma. Chest 87:218S-222S

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SM (1985b) Occupational asthma. In: (EB Weiss, Segal MS, Stein M (eds) Bronchial asthma, 2nd edn. Little, Brown & Co., Boston, pp 461–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks SM (1992) Occupational and environmental asthma. In: Rom WN (ed) Environmental and occupational medicine. Little, Brown & Co., Boston, pp 393–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown DM, Donaldson K (1991) Injurious effects of wool and grain dusts on alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages in vitro. Br J Ind Med 48:196–202

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bush RK, Cohen M (1977) Immediate and late onset of asthma from occupational exposure to soy bean dust. Clin Allergy 7:369–373

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castellan RM, Boehlecke BA, Peterson MR, Thedell TD, Merchant JA (1981) Pulmonary function and symptoms in herbal tea workers. Chest 79:81S-85S

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castellan RM, Olenchock SA, Hankinson JG, Millner PD, Cocke JB, Bragg CK, Perkins HH, Jacobs RR (1984) Acute bronchoconstriction induced by cotton dust. Dose-related response to endotoxin and other dust factors. Ann Intern Med 101:157–163

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chan-Yeung M, Malo JL (1987) Occupational asthma. Chest 91:130S-136S

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson K, Love RG, Cullen RT (1988) Inflammatory effects in the rat lung caused by dust collected from the air of British wool factories. Thorax 43:262P

    Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ (1990) Health effects from work in swine confinement buildings. Am J Ind Med 17:17–25

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Donham KJ, Zavala DC, Merchant JA (1984) Respiratory symptoms and lung function among workers in swine confinement buildings: a cross-sectional epidemiological study. Arch Environ Health 39:96–101

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris BG (1978) Epidemiology standardization project. III. Recommended standardized procedures for pulmonary function testing. Am Rev Respir Dis 118:55–88

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghio AJ, Castellan RM, Kinsley KB, Hankinson JL (1991) Changes in forced expiratory volume in one second and peak expiratory flow rate across a work shift among unexposed blue collar workers. Am Rev Respir Dis 143:1232–1234

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross NJ (1980) Allergy to laboratory animals. Epidemiologic, clinical, and physiologic aspects, and a trial of cromolyn in its management. J Allergy Clin Immunol 66:158–165

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hargreave FE, Dolovich J, O'Byrne MB, Ramsdale EH, Daniel EE (1986) The origin of airway hyperresponsiveness. J Allergy Clin Immunol 78:825–832

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heederik D, Kromhout H, Kromhout D, Burema J, Biersteker K (1992) Relations between occupation, smoking, lung function, and incidence and mortality of chronic non-specific lung disease: the Zutphen study. Br J Ind Med 49:299–308

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman MJ, Fabri LM, O'Bryne PM, Gold BD, Aizawa H, Walters EH, Alpert SE, Nadel JA (1983) Importance of airway inflammation for hyperresponsiveness induced by ozone. Am Rev Respir Dis 127:686–690

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iversen M, Pedersen B, Dahl R (1990) Relationship between respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyperreactivity in pig farmers. Am J Ind Med 17:64–65

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones RN, Hughes JM, Lehrer SB, Butcher BT, Glindmeyer HW, Diem JE, Hammad YY, Salvaggio J, Weil H (1982) Lung function consequences of exposure and hypersensitivity in workers who process green coffee beans. Am Rev Respir Dis 125:199–202

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanceljak-Macan B, Zuskin E, Godnic-Cvar J (1990) Bronchial reactivity to tea dust in healthy subjects. Period Biol 92:355–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaye M, Freedman SD (1961) Allergy to raw coffee — an occupational disease. Can Med Assoc J 84:496–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryzanowski M, Jedrychowski W, Wysocki M (1986) Factors associated with the change in ventilatory function and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a 13-year follow-up of the Cracow study. Am Rev Respir Dis 134:1011–1019

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lerbowitz MD (1977) Occupational exposures in relation to symptomatology and lung function in a community population. Environ Res 14:59–67

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lutsky I, Baum GL, Teichtahl H, Mazar A, Aizer F, Bar-Sela S (1986) Respiratory disease in animal house workers. Eur J Respir Dis 69:29–35

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Medical Research Council Committee on the Etiology of Chronic Bronchitis (1960) Standardized questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Br Med J II:1665

    Google Scholar 

  • Nava C, Brambilla G, Briatico-Vangosa M, Marchisio M, Talamo F (1983) Occupational asthma in food workers: study of three cases. Med Lav 74:302–307

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neuman I, Lutsky II (1976) Laboratory animal dander allergy. II. Clinical studies and the potential protective effect of disodium cromoglycate. Ann Allergy 36:23–29

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neuman Taylor AJ (1988) Occupational asthma. Postgrad Med J 64:505–510

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novembre E, Martino M de, Vierucci A (1988) Foods and respiratory allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 81:1059–1065

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pepys J (1982) Occupational asthma: an overview. J Occup Med 24:534–538

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pepys J, Hutchcroft BJ (1975) Bronchial provocation tests in etiologic diagnosis and analysis of asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis 112:829–859

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perrin B, Lagier F, L'Archeveque J, Cartier A, Boulet LP, Cote J, Malo JL (1992) Occupational asthma: validity of monitoring of peak expiratory flow rates and non-allergic bronchial responsiveness as compared to specific inhalation challenge. Eur Respir J 5:40–48

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quanjer P (1983) Standardized lung function testing. Bull Eur Physiopath Respir (Suppl 5) 19:1–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohrbach MS, Rolastad RA, Russell JA (1986) Tannin is the major agent present in cotton mill dust responsible for human platelet 5-hydroxytriptamine secretion and thromboxane formation. Lung 164:187–197

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rylander R (1981) Bacterial toxins and the etiology of byssinosis. Chest [Suppl] 79:34–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Rylander R (1990) Health effects of cotton dust exposures. Am J Ind Med 17:39–45

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter EN, Zuskin E, Buck MG, Witek TJ, Beck GJ, Tyler D (1985) Comparison of airway response to cotton bract extract with inhaled methacholine and metaproterenol. Chest 87:51–55

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sunyer J, Rodrigo MJ, Anto JM, Morell F (1989) Case control study of serum immunoglobulin E antibodies with soybean in epidemic asthma. Lancet I:179–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toorenenbergen AW, Dieges PH (1985) Immunoglobulin E antibodies against coriander and other species. J Allergy Clin Immunol 76:477–481

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uragoda CG (1967) Symptoms among chili grinders. Br J Ind Med 24:162–164

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uragoda CG (1980) Respiratory disease in tea workers in Sri Lanka. Thorax 35:114–117

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uragoda CG (1984) Asthma and other symptoms in cinnamon workers. Br J Ind Med 41:224–227

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valic F, Zuskin E (1972) Effects of different vegetable dust exposures. Br J Ind Med 29:293–297

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valic F, Zuskin E, Watford J, Kersic W, Paukovic R (1968) Byssinosis, chronic bronchitis and ventilatory capacities in workers exposed to soft hemp dust. Br J Ind Med 25:176–186

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widdicombe JG (1954) Receptors in the trachea and bronchi in the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 123:71–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Witek TJ, Mazzara CA, Zuskin E, Beck GJ, Buck MG, Schachter EN (1988) Bronchial responsiveness after inhalation of cotton bract extract. Am Rev Respir Dis 138:1579–1583

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1986) Early detection of occupational disease. WHO, Geneva, pp 35–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Christiani C, Dockery DW, Wang L (1992) Exposure-response relationships between occupational exposures and chronic respiratory illness: a community-based study. Am Rev Respir Dis 146:413–418

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Bouhuys A (1975) A byssinosis: airway responses in textile dust exposure. J Occup Med 17:357–359

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Skuric Z (1984) Respiratory function in tea workers. Br J Ind Med 41:88–93

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Valic F, Bouhuys A (1976) Byssinosis and airway responses due to exposure to textile dust. Lung 154:17–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Valic F, Skuric Z (1979) Respiratory function in coffee workers. Br J Ind Med 36:117–122

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Skuric Z, Kanceljak B, Pokrajac D, Schachter EN, Witek TJ (1988a) Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in soy bean workers. Am J Ind Med 14:157–165

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Skuric Z, Kanceljak B, Pokrajac D, Schachter EN, Witek TJ (1988b) Respiratory findings in spice factory workers. Arch Environ Health 43:335–339

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Skuric Z, Kanceljak B, Pokrajac D, Schachter EN, Wittek TJ (1988c) Respiratory symptoms and lung function in furriers. Am J Ind Med 14:189–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Mataija M, Pokrajac D, Schachter EN, Witek TJ (1989) Respiratory function in animal food processing workers. Am J Ind Med 16:179–187

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Kanceljak B, Witek TJ, Schachter EN (1991a) Acute ventilatory response to green coffee dust extract. Ann Allergy 66:219–224

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Kanceljak B, Schachter EN, Mustajbegovic J, Goswami S, Maayani S, Marom Z, Rienzi N (1991b) Immunological and respiratory findings in swine farmers. Environ Res 56:120–130

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Kanceljak B, Schachter EN, Witek TJ, Marom Z, Goswami S, Maayani S (1991c) Immunological and respiratory changes in soy bean workers. Int Ach Occup Environ Health 63:15–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Kanceljak B, Schachter EN, Witek TJ, Maayani S, Goswami S, Marom Z, Rienzi N (1992a) Immunological and respiratory changes in animal food processing workers. Am J Ind Med 21:177–191

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuskin E, Kanceljak B, Stilinovic L, Schachter EN, Kopjar B (1992b) Immunological status and respiratory findings in furriers. Am J Ind Med 21:433–441

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrija Stampar School for Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Eugenija Zuskin

  2. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    E. Neil Schachter, Theodor J. Witek Jr. & Edward Fein

  3. Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

    Bozica Kanceljak

Authors
  1. Eugenija Zuskin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Neil Schachter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bozica Kanceljak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Theodor J. Witek Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Edward Fein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zuskin, E., Schachter, E.N., Kanceljak, B. et al. Organic dust disease of airways. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 65, 135–140 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405733

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405733

Key words

Search

Navigation