TY - JOUR JO - Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine J2 - Ann Agric Environ Med. SN - 1232-1966 VL - 22 IS - 4 PY - 2015 ID - Dorribo2015 TI - Respiratory health effects of fifteen years of improved collective protection in a wheat-processing worker population AB - Introduction Occupational exposure to grain dust causes respiratory symptoms and pathologies. To decrease these effects, major changes have occurred in the grain processing industry in the last twenty years. However, there are no data on the effects of these changes on workers’ respiratory health. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the respiratory health of grain workers and farmers involved in different steps of the processing industry of wheat, the most frequently used cereal in Europe, fifteen years after major improvements in collective protective equipment due to mechanisation. Material and Methods Information on estimated personal exposure to wheat dust was collected from 87 workers exposed to wheat dust and from 62 controls. Lung function (FEV 1 , FVC, and PEF), exhaled nitrogen monoxide (F E NO) and respiratory symptoms were assessed after the period of highest exposure to wheat during the year. Linear regression models were used to explore the associations between exposure indices and respiratory effects. Results Acute symptoms – cough, sneezing, runny nose, scratchy throat – were significantly more frequent in exposed workers than in controls. Increased mean exposure level, increased cumulative exposure and chronic exposure to more than 6 mg.m -3 of inhaled wheat dust were significantly associated with decreased spirometric parameters, including FEV 1 and PEF (40 ml and 123 ml.s -1 ), FEV 1 and FVC (0.4 ml and 0.5 ml per 100 h.mg.m -3 ), FEV 1 and FVC (20 ml and 20 ml per 100 h at >6 mg.m -3 ). However, no increase in F E NO was associated with increased exposure indices. Conclusions The lung functions of wheat-related workers are still affected by their cumulative exposure to wheat dust, despite improvements in the use of collective protective equipment. AU - Dorribo, Victor AU - Wild, Pascal AU - Pralong, Jacques A AU - Danuser, Brigitta AU - Reboux, Gabriel AU - Krief, Peggy AU - Niculita-Hirzel, Helene SP - 647 EP - 654 DA - 2015 DO - 10.5604/12321966.1185768 UR - https://doi.org/10.5604/12321966.1185768 ER -