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Document ID (ISN)100768
CIS number 02-1938
ISSN - Serial title 0271-3586 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Haug T., Søstrand P., Langård S.
Title Exposure to culturable microorganisms in paper mills and presence of symptoms associated with infections
Bibliographic information June 2002, Vol.41, No.6, p.498-505. 32 ref.
Abstract Based on an exposure assessment, workers exposed to culturable bio-aerosols in 11 paper mills were divided into three exposure groups. 781 exposed and 285 unexposed workers completed a questionnaire that provided data pertaining to infections and associated symptoms. Concentrations of culturable bacteria in process waters varied in the range 104-106 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL, and in bio-aerosol concentrations varied typically in the range 104-105 CFU/m3. Operators exposed to bio-aerosols reported higher incidence of symptoms associated with infections compared to the reference population (odds ratio 1.7-5.9), and the group of highest exposed workers reported higher incidence than the lowest exposed group. It is concluded that exposure to bio-aerosols containing culturable microorganisms may induce symptoms associated with infections among operators in paper mills.
Descriptors (primary) symptoms; pulp and paper industry; biological hazards; infectious diseases
Descriptors (secondary) microorganisms; aerosols; frequency rates; case-control study; exposure evaluation
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceNorway
Subject(s) Paper-making and printing
Broad subject area(s) Biological hazards
Browse category(ies) Bacterial and parasitic diseases
Paper and paper products industry
Biological hazards