Document ID (ISN) | 108636 |
CIS number |
08-1135 |
Year |
2007 |
Convention or series no. |
HSE Research Report 540
|
Author(s) |
Swan J.R.M., Blainey D., Crook B. Health and Safety Executive |
Title |
The HSE grain dust study - Workers' exposure to grain dust contaminants, immunological and clinical response |
Bibliographic information |
HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, 2007. viii, 98p. Illus. Approx 150 ref. |
Internet access |
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr540.pdf [in English]
|
Abstract |
This study investigated the role of microorganisms and their associated contaminants in the development of clinical symptoms and immunological response in workers exposed to grain dust. A cohort of 321 workers exposed to grain dust (farmers at 27 farms and dock workers at two ports) was constituted. Workers were subjected to several immunoassay and clinical assessments over two study phases: phase 1 from 1990 to 1993 and phase 2 from 1997 to 2003. It was found that grain workers are exposed to high levels of endotoxin, microorganisms and dust. The levels of endotoxin were greatly in excess of those shown to cause adverse health effects. Exposure levels to grain dust were high, and still frequently over maximum exposure limits. Other findings are discussed. |
Descriptors (primary) |
dock work; United Kingdom; microorganisms; agriculture; grain dust; exposure evaluation; bacterial toxins |
Descriptors (secondary) |
threshold limit values; report; symptoms; grain elevators; medical examinations; cohort study; long-term study; immunology; limitation of exposure |
Document type |
E - Books, reports, proceedings |
Country / State or Province | United Kingdom |
Subject(s) |
Transport and communications Agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry
|
Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
|
Browse category(ies) |
Exposure evaluation Water transportation Agriculture
|