Title
Endotoxin: From database to measurement strategy
Author
Spaan, S.
Schinkel, J.M.
Wouters, I.M.
Preller, E.A.
Tjoe Nij, E.I.M.
Heederik, D.
Tielemans, E.L.J.P.
Preller, L.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2007
Abstract
Endotoxin is a well-known toxin which has been associated with several health effects. Many factors influence airborne endotoxin exposure and can cause high variability in exposure between and within workers. Additionally, since the source of endotoxin exposure - gram-negative bacteria - grow and amplify, exposure variability is thought to be larger than for chemical exposure. We therefore explored exposure variability in a database with more than 2,000 endotoxin measurements collected over the last years. Based on the outcomes, the existing measurement strategy for chemical agents, the European standard EN 689, was adapted for endotoxin exposure assessment. This measurement strategy for endotoxin exposure should be seen as a novel method taking the increased exposure variability usually encountered with endotoxin exposure into account. It can be a useful guide for occupational hygienists to assess endotoxin exposure and the probability of exceedance and overexposure in a certain working environment. The emphasis of the strategy is on control measures when the circumstances indicate (elevated) endotoxin exposure.
Subject
Chemistry Safety
Food and Chemical Risk Analysis
endotoxin
article
controlled study
dust exposure
environmental exposure
exposure variable
human
occupational exposure
quantitative analysis
work environment
workplace
Negibacteria
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:167cd8dd-717c-4b71-8f0f-58a4f759be87
TNO identifier
240164
ISSN
0949-8036
Source
Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft, 67 (9), 377-383
Document type
article