Biomedical subjects
S Jeggli
Publications and source records attributed to S Jeggli.
Clara cell protein and surfactant protein B in garbage collectors and in wastewater workers exposed to bioaerosols.
OBJECTIVES: Inhalation of bioaerosols has been hypothesised to cause "toxic pneumonitis" that should increase lung epithelial permeability at the bronchioloalveolar level. Serum Clara cell protein (CC16) and serum surfactant protein B (SPB) have been proposed as sensitive markers of lung epithelial injury. This study was aimed at looking for increased lung epithelial permeability by determining CC16 and SPB in workers exposed to bioaerosols from wastewater or garbage. METHODS: Subjects (778 wastewater, garbage and control workers; participation 61%) underwent a medical examination, lung function tests [American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria], and determination of CC16 and SPB. Symptoms of endotoxin exposure and several potential confounders (age, gender, smoking, kidney function, obesity) were looked for. Results were examined with multiple linear or logistic regression. RESULTS: Exposure to bioaerosols increased CC16 concentration in the wastewater workers. No effect of exposure on SPB was found. No clue to work-related respiratory diseases was found. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in CC16 in serum supports the hypothesis that bioaerosols cause subclinical "toxic pneumonitis", even at low exposure.
Hepatitis E, Helicobacter pylori, and gastrointestinal symptoms in workers exposed to waste water.
BACKGROUND: Workers exposed to sewage may have an increased risk of infection by Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis E virus (HEV). AIMS: To assess the prevalence of clinical hepatitis E (HE) and peptic ulcer disease as well as the seroprevalence of antibodies to H pylori and HEV in workers with and without sewage exposure and to look for symptoms due to exposure to endotoxin. METHODS: In the first year of a prospective cohort study 349 sewage exposed workers and 429 municipal manual workers (participation: 61%) underwent a complete medical examination. Travelling to endemic areas, socioeconomic level, age, country in which childhood was spent, and number of siblings were considered as the main confounding factors. RESULTS: Peptic ulcer disease and clinical HE did not occur more often in workers exposed to sewage. Prevalence of antibodies to HEV was 3.3% and overall prevalence of IgG antibodies to H pylori was 42% with large differences between subgroups. Logistic regression did not show an increased risk of seropositivity or antibodies to parietal cells in sewage exposed workers, but disentangling the effect of exposure from that of confounders was extremely difficult. No increase of symptoms due to exposure to endotoxin was found in sewage workers, with the exception of diarrhoea. CONCLUSIONS: No clear increased risk of infection by H pylori or by HEV in workers exposed to sewage was found in this cross-sectional study, but these results need to be confirmed by follow up.
[Hepatitis E and exposure to waste water].
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is found in waste water which represents a route of infection. However, the risk for sewage workers is unknown. Thus, we aimed at determining the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in sewage workers from the Canton of Zurich. The anti-HEV antibodies evaluated in 288 subjects with exposure to sewage and 306 controls, a total of 594 subjects. Overall, twenty-two (3.7%) subjects had anti-HEV, the seroprevalence was similar in those exposed and controls. The most important risk factor, travelling in endemic areas, was lacking in two workers, who both were exposed to sewage. A follow up study in the population will soon give further evidence on the incidence rate.
[Lung diseases in persons exposed to waste disposal dust].
The current cohort study in the canton of Zurich is investigating respiratory diseases in waste collectors. Therefore, a clinical history was taken and lung function tests and measurement of the Clara cell protein concentration were carried out. The first results show no elevation of the prevalence of asthma or other lung diseases in waste collectors. Compared with control subjects, waste collectors have a lower forced expiratory volume in the first second and a higher mean Clara cell protein concentration. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity and arterial hypertension which are not caused by the occupation is high. Indeed, about 50% of all participants are hypertensive.