Print Email Facebook Twitter Inhalable β(1→3)glucans as a non-allergenic exposure factor in Dutch bakeries Title Inhalable β(1→3)glucans as a non-allergenic exposure factor in Dutch bakeries Author Stuurman, B. Meijster, T. Heederik, D. Doekes, G. TNO Kwaliteit van Leven Publication year 2008 Abstract Objectives: To obtain an overview of inhalable β(1→3)glucans levels in Dutch industrial bakeries and explore possible associations with reported respiratory health effects in bakery workers. Methods: β(1→3)glucan levels were analysed in 186 personal inhalable dust measurements obtained from a random population of bakery workers. Association between respiratory health effects and exposure to β(1→;3)glucan was explored in a population of industrial bakery workers participating in a Health Surveillance System for flour processing sectors. Based on their job, bakery workers were assigned to low or high exposure categories given the average job exposure estimates obtained from the measurement study. Results: Bread bakers and dough makers had the highest exposures to β(1→3)glucans (GM 1.48 μg/m3 and 1.37 μg/m3 respectively). Strong correlations were found between airborne levels of inhalable dust and β(1→3)glucans, and between β(1→3)glucans and wheat allergens (Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.74 and 0.68 respectively). No significant associations could be identified between β(1→3)glucan exposure and work-related respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: This study has shown that bakery workers are exposed to inhalable β(1→3)glucan levels comparable with exposure levels found in other occupational settings. More refined exposure assessment is necessary to fully understand the role of β(1→3)glucan exposure on respiratory health in bakery workers. Subject Nutritionbeta(1-3)glucan derivativeglucanarticlecontrolled studycorrelation analysiscorrelation coefficientdust exposurehealth surveyhumanmajor clinical studyoccupational exposurepriority journalrespiratory tract diseasewheat allergyAdultbeta-GlucansCookeryCross-Sectional StudiesDustHumansInhalationNetherlandsOccupational ExposureTriticumWheat HypersensitivityTriticum aestivum To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:46d7e219-d3cb-44f6-aee7-3eb38ba56fdb DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2007.032623 TNO identifier 240603 ISSN 1351-0711 Source Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 65 (1), 68-70 Document type article Files To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Library.