| Document ID (ISN) | 104546 |
| CIS number |
06-199 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
1351-0711 - Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Year |
2004 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Kennedy S.M., Copes R., Bartlett K.H., Brauer M. |
| Title |
Point-of-sale glass bottle recycling: Indoor airborne exposures and symptoms among employees |
| Bibliographic information |
July 2004, Vol.61, No.7, p.628-635. 23 ref. |
| Abstract |
Airborne exposures and both chronic and acute respiratory and somatic symptoms were surveyed among 226 employees at 36 randomly selected liquor stores with bottle recycling and in-house glass breaking. Rates of chronic symptoms were compared to an external, unexposed control population. Exposure levels were estimated for inhalable particulate matter (0.18 mg/m3), endotoxin (3.6 EU/m3) and viable fungi (1064 CFU/m3). Fungal levels were associated with visibly mouldy bottles being broken, outdoor fungal counts and uncovered glass bins. Compared to controls, employees reported more work related chest tightness and chronic nasal symptoms. Acute chest symptoms were associated with breaking visibly mouldy bottles, but not with measured fungal counts; inhalable particulate matter levels >0.2 mg/m3 were associated with acute upper airway irritation. Results suggest that this type of recycling programme may generate fungal exposures sufficient to elicit upper airway and chest symptoms. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
glass; fungi; recycling of materials; respirable dust; shops; respiratory diseases |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
personal sampling; determination in air; bacterial toxins; moulds |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Country / State or Province | Canada |
| Subject(s) |
Toxic and dangerous substances
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Biological hazards
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Retail industry
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)
|
