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Document ID (ISN)105698
CIS number 06-1154
ISSN - Serial title 1341-9145 - Journal of Occupational Health
Year 2005
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Zhang Y., Chen J., Chen Y., Dong J., Wei Q.
Title Environmental mycological study and allergic respiratory disease among tobacco processing workers
Bibliographic information 2005, Vol.47, p.181-187. 9 ref.
Internet access http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/joh/47/2/181/_pdf [in English]
Abstract This study presents the results of an investigation of respiratory symptoms, lung function, chest x-ray examinations, analysis of specific IgE antibodies and skin prick tests to fungi on 130 tobacco-processing workers and 112 controls. Industrial hygiene and environmental mycological studies were also performed. The average dust concentrations ranged from 13.76 to 29.55 mg/m3 in the tobacco processing workshops; the numbers of fungi colonies in the processing environments were much higher than those in the control environments. The prevalence of chronic respiratory or nasal symptoms and lung function abnormalities was significantly higher in the exposed workers than in the controls. The positive prevalence of specific IgE reactions to fungi was also higher in exposed workers. Results suggest that tobacco processing workers may develop respiratory diseases related to tobacco dust and that fungi might be one of the allergens causing allergic respiratory or nasal diseases.
Descriptors (primary) tobacco industry; fungi; pulmonary function; respirable dust; respiratory diseases
Descriptors (secondary) allergens; allergic respiratory disorders; chest radiography; silica
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceChina
Subject(s) Toxic and dangerous substances
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Tobacco industry
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)