Upper and Lower Respiratory Signs and Symptoms in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Flour Dust

Maria Angiola Crivellaro, Giancarlo Ottaviano, Pietro Maculan, Alfonso Luca Pendolino, Liviano Vianello, Paola Mason, Francesco Gioffrè, Rosana Bizzotto, Bruno Scarpa, Edi Simoni, Laura Astolfi, Piero Maestrelli, Maria Luisa Scapellato, Mariella Carrieri and Andrea Trevisan
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Maria Angiola Crivellaro: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Giancarlo Ottaviano: Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Pietro Maculan: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Alfonso Luca Pendolino: Department of ENT, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London WC1X 8DA, UK
Liviano Vianello: SPISAL, Azienda ULSS7 Pedemontana, 36061 Bassano del Grappa (VI), Italy
Paola Mason: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Francesco Gioffrè: SPISAL, Azienda ULSS6 Euganea, 35128 Padova, Italy
Rosana Bizzotto: SPISAL, Azienda ULSS6 Euganea, 35128 Padova, Italy
Bruno Scarpa: Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy bruno.scarpa@unipd.it
Edi Simoni: Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Laura Astolfi: Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Piero Maestrelli: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Maria Luisa Scapellato: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Mariella Carrieri: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Andrea Trevisan: Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: A group of 142 bakers was studied in order to investigate the relationship between higher/lower respiratory signs/symptoms and inflammation biomarkers and occupational exposure to flour dust. A complete upper and lower respiratory tract evaluation was performed. Seven percent of bakers complained of lower respiratory symptoms, while 22% of them complained of upper respiratory symptoms. Fifty five percent of the bakers were allergic, and 37.1% showed sensitization to occupational allergens. Abnormal spirometries were found in 15% of bakers, while fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was above the normal reference in 24.5% of them. Moreover, 23.8% of bakers were found to be hyposmic. Population mean peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) was in the normal range even if almost all the workers suffered from neutrophilic rhinitis at nasal cytology with the number of nasal neutrophils increasing with the increase of the duration of exposure to flour dust ( p = 0.03). PNIF and FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in the 1st second) showed a positive correlation ( p = 0.03; r = 0.19). The Tiffeneau index decreased with the increase of dust ( p = 0.017). A similar result was obtained once we divided our population into smokers and non-smokers ( p = 0.021). Long-term exposure to bakery dusts can lead to a status of minimal nasal inflammation and allergy.

Keywords: flour dust; occupational exposure; PNIF; Tiffeneau index; smell; skin prick test; nasal cytology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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