Biomedical subjects

G J Kullman

Publications and source records attributed to G J Kullman.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Acute pulmonary hemorrhage in infants associated with exposure to Stachybotrys atra and other fungi.

BACKGROUND: A geographic cluster of 10 cases of pulmonary hemorrhage and hemosiderosis in infants occurred in Cleveland, Ohio, between January 1993 and December 1994. STUDY DESIGN: This community-based case-control study tested the hypothesis that the 10 infants with pulmonary hemorrhage and hemosiderosis were more likely to live in homes where Stachybotrys atra was present than were 30 age- and ZIP code-matched control infants. We investigated the infants' home environments using bioaerosol sampling methods, with specific attention to S atra. Air and surface samples were collected from the room where the infant was reported to have spent the most time. RESULTS: Mean colony counts for all fungi averaged 29 227 colony-forming units (CFU)/m3 in homes of patients and 707 CFU/m3 in homes of controls. The mean concentration of S atra in the air was 43 CFU/m3 in homes of patients and 4 CFU/m3 in homes of controls. Viable S atra was detected in filter cassette samples of the air in the homes of 5 of 9 patients and 4 of 27 controls. The matched odds ratio for a change of 10 units in the mean concentration of S atra in the air was 9.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-3 X 10(6)). The mean concentration of S atra on surfaces was 20 X 10(6) CFU/g and 0.007 x 10(6) CFU/g in homes of patients and controls, respectively. CONCLUSION: Infants with pulmonary hemorrhage and hemosiderosis were more likely than controls to live in homes with toxigenic S atra and other fungi in the indoor air.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1998

Organic dust exposures from work in dairy barns.

Environmental surveys were conducted in 85 barns, predominantly dairy, in central Wisconsin to characterize exposures to organic dusts and dust constituents from routine barn work. Environmental analytes included airborne dusts (total, inhalable inlet, and respirable), particle size distributions, endotoxins, total spore and bacteria counts, viable bacteria and fungi, histamine, cow urine antigen, mite antigen, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. The geometric mean (GM) concentration of airborne dusts include area total, 0.74 mg/m3; personal inhalable inlet, 1.78 mg/m3, and area respirable, 0.07 mg/m3. Viable bacteria and fungi, spores, endotoxins, histamine, cow urine antigen, and mite antigen were quantifiable constituents of these organic dusts and potential respiratory exposure hazards from routine dairy barn work. Endotoxin concentrations from the inhalable inlet samples ranged from 25.4 endotoxin units per cubic meter of air (EU/m3) to 34,800 EU/m3. The GM endotoxin concentration from these samples, 647 EU/m3, exceeds estimated threshold exposure levels for respiratory health effects. Ammonia was a common irritant quantified in most dairy barns. There were significant correlations between the concentrations of organic dusts and certain dust constituents, although in most instances these correlations were not strong. These sampling results demonstrate the complex nature of organic dusts and provide quantitative description of the exposures to toxic and immunogenic dust constituents during routine barn work.

Air Microbiology↗

PubMed1995

Mortality of a cohort of U.S. workers employed in the crushed stone industry, 1940-1980.

The mortality of 3,246 males who had been employed 1 or more years during 1940-1980 at 20 crushed stone operations was evaluated for possible association between employment and death from lung cancer, pneumoconiosis, and other respiratory diseases. Four deaths were attributed to pneumoconiosis. Based on available work histories, at least two of these deaths were probably due to dust exposures in the crushed stone industry. Mortality attributed to pneumoconiosis and other nonmalignant respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive lung disease, was significantly increased overall (SMR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.21-3.05), and especially so for a subcohort of crushed stone workers that processed granite (SMR: 7.26; 95% CI: 1.97-18.59). With regard to lung cancer, overall SMRs were elevated (although not statistically significant). Analyzed by rock type, there was a significantly elevated lung cancer SMR among granite workers with at least 20 years latency (SMR: 3.35; 95% CI: 1.34-6.90). Although not definitive, results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that exposure to respirable silica dust is a risk factor for lung cancer.

Cohort Studies↗

PubMed1995

Occupational exposures to fibers and quartz at 19 crushed stone mining and milling operations.

From 1979 to 1982, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a cross-sectional exposure assessment and mortality study of selected crushed stone facilities in the United States. This study was undertaken in part to address concerns that asbestos exposures could be occurring in some crushed stone operations due to the presence of amphibole and serpentine minerals. The investigation was also designed to characterize exposures to crystalline silica and other mineral compounds. Nineteen crushed stone operations, mining limestone, granite, or traprock were surveyed to assess exposures to respirable and total dusts, mineral compounds including crystalline silica, asbestos, and mineral fibers. At the initiation of the study, crushed stone operations were selected from a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) listing of the active industry in 1978. With the exception of requiring inclusion of the traprock operation in Maryland where asbestos fibers were initially discovered, a stratified sample of operations was randomly selected by rock type (granite, limestone, traprock, or sandstone). However, because of reluctance or refusal of some companies to participate and because of the closures of some of the selected operations, replacements were randomly selected. Some replacement selections were likewise replaced due to lack of cooperation from the companies. The studied sample included only 10 of the 27 randomly selected operations in the original sample. Asbestos fibers were detected at one traprock facility, the Maryland operation where asbestos was originally found. Measured personal exposures to fibers exceeded the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for two out of 10 samples. All of the samples were below the MSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), which was in effect at the time of the survey. However, due to the presence of nonasbestos mineral fibers in the environment, it could not be stated with certainty that all of the fibers counted by phase contrast microscopy were asbestos. A variety of silicate mineral fibers (other than those classified by NIOSH as asbestos) were detected in the traprock operations and at one granite operation. Crystalline silica was detected at 17 of the 19 surveyed crushed stone operations. Overexposures to crystalline silica were measured at 16 of the crushed stone operations; approximately one in seven personal-respirable dust samples (14%) exceeded the MSHA PEL for crystalline silica. Approximately 25% of the respirable dust samples exceeded the NIOSH REL for crystalline silica. Mill operators and mill laborers consistently had the highest and most frequent overexposures to crystalline silica.

Asbestos↗

PubMed1994

Bioaerosol sampling in field studies: can samples be express mailed?

Bioaerosol sampling for viable microorganisms was conducted in 25 dairy barns in summer and in winter to examine the relationship of sample storage and shipping in determining bioaerosol concentrations separately for yeasts, molds, mesophilic bacteria, and thermophilic organisms. The study also compared the performance of three sampling methods--(1) all-glass impinger (AGI) used with peptone solution in both seasons and (2) betaine solution in winter; and (3) the nuclepore filtration and elution (NFE) method, using air filtration with subsequent elution and culturing--which were studied in a pairwise fashion with duplicate, simultaneous, side-by-side sampling. For each sample, one duplicate was analyzed within two hours in a laboratory less than 50 km from the sampling site, while the other was express-mailed to the authors' laboratory. Concentrations of all microorganisms measured by the AGI peptone method were unaffected by mailing in winter, but mesophilic bacteria increased in summer. AGI betaine samples were unchanged except for increased concentrations of molds after mailing in winter. Yeasts and mesophilic bacteria significantly decreased after mailing of NFE samples. Pairwise comparison of the sampling methods in winter yielded no significant differences in airborne concentrations for the yeasts, mesophilic bacteria, and thermophilic bacteria. Both AGI betaine and NFE methods had significantly greater concentrations of molds than AGI peptone. In summer, concentrations of yeasts and mesophilic bacteria were significantly greater with AGI peptone, as were molds with the NFE method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed1994

Characterization of air contaminants formed by the interaction of lava and sea water.

We made environmental measurements to characterize contaminants generated when basaltic lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano enters sea water. This interaction of lava with sea water produces large clouds of mist (LAZE). Island winds occasionally directed the LAZE toward the adjacent village of Kalapana and the Hawaii Volcanos National Park, creating health concerns. Environmental samples were taken to measure airborne concentrations of respirable dust, crystalline silica and other mineral compounds, fibers, trace metals, inorganic acids, and organic and inorganic gases. The LAZE contained quantifiable concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrofluoric acid (HF); HCl was predominant. HCl and HF concentrations were highest in dense plumes of LAZE near the sea. The HCl concentration at this sampling location averaged 7.1 ppm; this exceeds the current occupational exposure ceiling of 5 ppm. HF was detected in nearly half the samples, but all concentrations were <1 ppm Sulfur dioxide was detected in one of four short-term indicator tube samples at approximately 1.5 ppm. Airborne particulates were composed largely of chloride salts (predominantly sodium chloride). Crystalline silica concentrations were below detectable limits, less than approximately 0.03 mg/m3 of air. Settled dust samples showed a predominance of glass flakes and glass fibers. Airborne fibers were detected at quantifiable levels in 1 of 11 samples. These fibers were composed largely of hydrated calcium sulfate. These findings suggest that individuals should avoid concentrated plumes of LAZE near its origin to prevent over exposure to inorganic acids, specifically HCl.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1993

Organic dust exposure from compost handling: response of an animal model.

The objective of this investigation was to elucidate the pulmonary responses of an animal model to dust generated from leaf/wood compost which had caused a severe case of acute respiratory illness in an individual. Guinea pigs were exposed for 4 hr to 30 mg/m3 of aerosolized leaf/wood compost dust. Inhalation resulted in significant cellular activation and changes in pulmonary mechanics. Maximal elevation in breathing rate (increases 36%) was observed 12-18 hr postexposure. Similarly, maximal granulocyte infiltration (increases 1,600%) and activation of alveolar macrophages (increases 65%) occurred 18 hr postexposure. In contrast, maximal airway obstruction (increases 120%) occurred immediately after exposure and returned toward normal (increases 53%) by 18 hr postexposure. In several respects, the airway obstruction and pulmonary inflammation described in the animal model were comparable to the human response to compost dust. Therefore, this animal model may be useful in predicting the potential respiratory hazard associated with exposure to various organic dusts.

Agriculture↗

PubMed1989

Assessment of respiratory exposures during gilsonite mining and milling operations.

An industrial hygiene study of the entire United States gilsonite industry was done by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to evaluate the potential for occupational health problems resulting from exposures to gilsonite and its constituents. Gilsonite is a solidified hydrocarbon substance mined only in northeastern Utah to Colorado. Industrial hygiene samples were collected at four gilsonite mining companies including nine mines and three mills. Gilsonite workers had no measurable exposures to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PNA) compounds, asbestos fibers, or hydrogen sulfide gas. Several organic gases/vapors and metals were detected in the airborne samples; but, none exceeded the current exposure standards/health criteria of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or NIOSH. Gilsonite workers in some job categories were exposed to high levels of dust, exceeding ACGIH nuisance dust recommendations. These dusts, comprised largely of aliphatic hydrocarbons, had a large aerodynamic size distribution with average mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) above 30 microns.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed1987

Respiratory health status of gilsonite workers.

Gilsonite, a solidified hydrocarbon used in the manufacture of automotive body seam sealers, is mined only in the Uinta Basin of Eastern Utah and Western Colorado. Health effects of gilsonite dust exposure have not previously been published and exposure to gilsonite dust is not regulated. To examine potential respiratory health effects associated with gilsonite dust exposures, this cross-sectional study surveyed the 100 current male employees who had been exposed to gilsonite dust at 3 existing gilsonite companies. Total dust exposures up to 28 times the nuisance dust standard were found, and 5 of 99 (5%) workers had chest radiographs consistent with pneumoconiosis of low profusion. Increased prevalences of cough and phlegm were found in workers with high-exposure jobs, but no evidence for dust-related pulmonary function impairment was noted. To prevent pulmonary health effects, we recommend reducing dust exposures for those workers in jobs currently characterized by relatively high dust exposures.

Adult↗