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ORIGINAL ARTICLES

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Ann Agric Environ Med 2002, 9, 243–247

THE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO ORGANIC DUST ON THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OF POTATO PROCESSING WORKERS Janusz Milanowski1, Anna Góra2&]HVáDZD6NyUVND2, Barbara Mackiewicz1, (ZD.U\VLVND-Traczyk2*UD*\QD&KROHZD2, Jolanta Sitkowska2, Jacek Dutkiewicz2
Clinic of Lung Diseases, Medical Academy, Lublin, Poland Department ofOccupational Biohazards, Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin, Poland
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Milanowski J, Góra $ 6NyUVND & 0DFNLHZLF] % .U\VLVND-Traczyk E, Cholewa G, Sitkowska J, Dutkiewicz J: The effects of exposure to organic dust on the respiratory system of potato processing workers. Ann Agric Environ Med 2002, 9, 243–247. Abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate lung functionand the prevalence of work-related symptoms in workers of a potato processing plant located in Lublin region (eastern Poland). The study group comprised 61 workers employed in 2 departments. The examination included: physician-administrated questionnaire on occurrence of work-related symptoms, occupational history and smoking habits. Spirometry was performed before (7:00–8:00) and after(16:00–17:00) the morning shift. Altogether 41/61 (67.2%) subjects reported at least one symptom associated with their job. Pulmonary symptoms were recorded in 28/61 (45.9%) subjects. The most commonly recorded complaints were: cough (44.3%), hoarseness (19.7%), shortness of breath (18%), followed by headache and skin lesion (13.1% each), and eye and nose irritation (11.5%). The prevalence of work-relatedsymptoms (except for eye and nose irritation) was higher in the group of subjects working longer than 4 years (the difference was statistically significant only for skin lesion). Among non-smoking workers a significantly higher prevalence of headache was seen compared to smokers (Fisher’s test, p < 0.05). Smokers complained more frequently of respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath,hoarseness and chest pain. The difference was significant only for cough (p < 0.05). A statistically significant over-shift decline in all measured spirometric values: FVC, FEV1 (p < 0.001), FEV1/VC (p < 0.05), PEF (p < 0.01) was observed. Address for correspondence: Prof. Janusz Milanowski, MD, Clinic of Lung Diseases, Medical Academy, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland. Key words: potatoprocessing, health effects, lung function, work-related symptoms.

INTRODUCTION Results of epidemiological studies indicate that workers employed in the agricultural crops processing industry have an increased risk of suffering from work-related symptoms [4, 11, 15, 18, 20, 30, 33, 34]. This is mainly due to the exposure to high concentrations of organic dust comprising bacteria and their degradationsproducts, fungi and the substances of plant or animal origin (pollen, animal dander) [3, 5, 7, 12,18, 22, 31]. It is widely recognized that inhalation of such a large variety of
Received: 29 September 2002 Accepted: 15 November 2002

antigens may lead to development of skin, eye and nose symptoms, asthma, allergic alveolitis, various chronic respiratory symptoms [4, 6, 10, 13, 21, 26, 27, 30,34], and lung function decrement [18, 29, 32, 34]. Zuskin et al. [34] found a high prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms among poultry food processing workers. Rosenman et al. [20] described a case of occupational asthma in a 33-year-old man employed in the sugar beet processing industry. During the work, patient experienced episodes of dry cough, shortness of breath, sharp chest pains, sorethroat and fatigue. Positive

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Milanowski J, Góra $6NyUVND&0DFNLHZLF]%.U\VLVND-Traczyk E, Cholewa G, Sitkowska J, Dutkiewicz J Table 2. Frequency of work-related symptoms reported by potato processing workers employed in different departments. Workers reporting symptoms n (%) Department P Cough Shortness of breath Chest pain Total pulmonary symptoms Headache Temperature Total...