Survey of allergic respiratory symptoms in grain terminal workers in the Port of Genoa

Summary Fifty workers from two grain elevator terminals were examined to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and their relationship with grain dust exposure.Fifty per cent of subjects complained of respiratory symptoms (rhinitis, asthma, chronic cough and dyspnea on exertion). In 34% of the workers the ventilatory function revealed some abnormalities (slight or moderate obstruction).Twenty-two (44%) showed a positive cutaneous reaction to one or more of the allergens tested, mostly towardsDermatophagoides and storage mites. The self-measurement of PEF over 14 days in 27 workers, showed significant differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. In particular, the results obtained from the cutaneous reactions could suggest a bronchial hypereactivity, worsened by the working exposure to dusts. The monitoring of PEF appears to be a simple and useful method for investigating the relationship between respiratory symptoms and the working environment.     

沿海防护林防海煞危害初探

通过后牧村海岸防护林带附近空气中主要盐离子飘尘的观测分析表明,林带对大气盐尘的吸附和截留作用,无林带地区平均沉降量为４．３μｇ．ｍ＾－３．１００ｍ＾－１,通过林带时为１８．４μｍ＾－３．１００ｍ＾－１。林带的吸队量与树种、枝叶形状有关,侧柏对Ｃｌ＾－和Ｎａ＾＋的吸附量分别为６３３０和３３５０ｍｇ．ｋｇ＾－１,而黑松为１５７０和９５０ｍｇ．ｋｇ＾－１,空气中盐尘受天气条件特别是风速的影响,阴天,风速     

Sampling dust from human dwellings to estimate the prevalence ofDermatophagoides mite and cat allergens

Summary Quantification of specific allergens in household dust samples may provide important information for selecting appropriate allergen control methods, and monitoring efficacy and compliance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the source of variation in mite and cat allergen measurements associated with dust sample collection. Discrete and composite dust samples were collected on a filter using a special vacuum sampling device. Aqueous extracts of the dust samples were prepared thenDer p I,Der f I, andFel d I were quantitated by enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Mite and cat allergens were frequently detected in dust samples from human dwellings, and the amounts of these allergens varied significantly (p<0.01) among dwellings. The differences of allergen measurements among duplicate samples taken immediately and up to three weeks later appear to be much smaller than differences among houses and between rooms. Variation among dust samples taken from living rooms and bedrooms of the same dwelling suggest differences in allergen reservoirs. Composite samples formed by sampling specific objects within a room may provide a reliable estimate of allergen exposure in that room. Dust samples from discrete objects are useful to find and monitor specific reservoirs of mite and cat allergens.     

沙面结皮形成与微环境变化

研究结果表明沙坡头地区的大气年降尘(d相似文献   

Lysis of mycelium ofFusarium oxysporum f. sp.udum in soil amended with organic matters

Summary Autoclaved or natural field soil amended with 0.1 to 5.0 per cent (W/W) of margosa cake, rice husk and sawdust with or without supplemental nitrogen were tested for lytic activity and bacterial numbers. Generally, non-amended autoclaved soil caused little or no lysis of mycelium ofF. oxysporum f. sp.udum; non-amended natural soil caused more lysis. Amendment of soil with margosa cake, rice husk or saw-dust with or without supplemental nitrogen greatly enhanced its lytic effect on the fungus. The degree of lysis depended on the dosage of amendment used and the stage of its decomposition in the soil. The extent of lysis increased as the bacterial population increased. Amongst bacteria,Bacillus subtilis was very common in most lytic zones.     

Effect of cotton dust on lungs among female workers in cotton industry in northern Gujarat,India

Byssinosis is a disabling occupational lung disease caused by cotton dust. It is a well-known occupational respiratory disease in cotton industry workers caused by cotton dust pollution. Many studies have been documented the effects of cotton dust on pulmonary function among workers employed in cotton-spinning mills. However, little data exist on the prevalence of this disorder in female workers particularly in western part of India. The present study was conducted to analyze the effects of exposure to cotton dust on pulmonary functions among female workers. The study was designed to assess the effects of exposure to cotton dust on lung functions among female cotton industry workers. Study group comprises 50 Female workers of cotton industry and control group comprises 50 age matched females who were neither worked in cotton industry nor exposed to cotton dust. Information was collected using standardized questionnaires, physical examination and spirometric measurements. Student''s T test was used to find the difference between spirometric parameters. All the respiratory parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF 25-75 % PEFR and MVV) were reduced in cotton industry workers as compared with control subjects (p<0.0001) and no significant difference of SpO2 between groups. Cotton dust exposure makes huge impact on respiratory parameters of the cotton industry workers. This deterioration in respiratory health deteriorates with increasing duration of exposure. The health hazards caused by cotton dust should be controlled by creating awareness among the workers & employers.     

矿物微尘对人体肠道菌群单一代表性菌株的体外作用研究

研究了矿物微尘对人体肠道菌群主要代表性菌株大肠埃希菌和嗜酸乳杆菌的体外作用。矿物微尘对大肠埃希菌生长起抑制作用,微尘浓度达3%时即对大肠埃希菌生长显著抑制,微尘浓度达20%时大肠埃希菌生长即受完全抑制,微尘浓度从3%到20%,大肠埃希菌虽受抑制但能生长,表明大肠埃希菌矿物微尘耐受能力较强。矿物微尘对嗜酸乳杆菌生长影响复杂,低浓度时起促进作用,较高浓度时起抑制作用,微尘浓度达5%时嗜酸乳杆菌生长即受完全抑制,嗜酸乳杆菌矿物微尘耐受能力较弱,远小于大肠埃希菌。确立矿物微尘对人体肠道代表性细菌的抑制浓度及致死浓度为环保监测和城市空气质量监控提供了科学依据。     

Characterization of Aerosolized Bacteria and Fungi From Desert Dust Events in Mali, West Africa

Millions of metric tons of African desert dust blow across the Atlantic Ocean each year, blanketing the Caribbean and southeastern United States. Previous work in the Caribbean has shown that atmospheric samples collected during dust events contain living microbes, including plant and opportunistic human pathogens. To better understand the potential downwind public health and ecosystem effects of the dust microbes, it is important to characterize the source population. We describe 19 genera of bacteria and 3 genera of fungi isolated from air samples collected in Mali, a known source region for dust storms, and over which large dust storms travel.     

河网地区小城镇街尘的粒径分布与多环芳烃污染

街尘是重要的环境介质,其携带的污染物在城镇化过程中对河网地区的水环境构成了一定的威胁。以杭嘉湖平原河网地区饮用水水源河流上游典型小城镇的街尘为研究对象,对街尘、河道沉积物、地表径流以及降雨前后地表水中的多环芳烃进行测定。在对不同粒径街尘中多环芳烃浓度的测定中发现,粒径为<63、125-63、250-125和900-250 μm街尘中多环芳烃的平均含量分别为7261、5835、4660和2909μg/kg。小粒径的街尘颗粒含有较高的多环芳烃浓度,较小的密度,并且较难清扫,造成了小粒径街尘易被雨水冲刷随地表径流进入河网水体。在对两场降雨的地表径流中多环芳烃检测发现,颗粒态的多环芳烃分别占总浓度的95%和94%。地表径流过程增加了受纳水体中多环芳烃浓度的43%-62%,其中超过50%的增加表现为颗粒态。在对不同河段沉积物、地表径流中颗粒物和不同粒径街尘中多环芳烃浓度的风险评价中发现,小粒径街尘和地表径流中颗粒物中多环芳烃的浓度相接近并具有较高的生态风险,城镇段河道沉积物较次之。由于河网地区的特殊的水文条件和景观空间格局特征,地表径流沉积物在进入河网水体后易原位沉积,造成了河道沉积物城镇段有较高的多环芳烃浓度。     

尘螨变应原Der f 1核酸序列测定及其分子进化分析

目的：对尘螨主要变应原Der f 1进行核酸序列测定,探讨其系统进化信息。方法：根据Genbank公布的Der f 1基因序列设计引物,巢式PCR扩增Der f 1的cDNA,纯化、回收、克隆至pMD19-T simple后进行序列测定,序列比对后用Clustal W1.83构建分子进化树。结果：成功扩增出Der f 1的cDNA片段,测序表明该基因含ORF1个,长度966bp,与参考序列同源性达99．9％。该变应原具半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性,与果蝇进化关系最远,与梅氏嗜霉螨进化关系最近。结论：成功获得了尘螨变应原Der f 1基因片段．根据其编码的氨基酸序列构建出的系统进化树与形态学分类不一致。