Prevalence of Work-Related Rhino-Conjunctivitis and Respiratory Symptoms Among Domestic Waste Collectors ^z>A.L Schantora, S. Casjens, A. Deckert, V. van Kampen, H.-D. Neumann, T. Bruning, M. Raulf, J. Bunger, and F. Hoffmeyer

摘要

Waste collectors may suffer from acute and chronic health effects caused by organic dust (bioaerosols). Pathophysiological symptoms may originate either from allergic or irritative pathomechanisms, but an explicit distinction of the etiology is often complicated although crucial for proper risk assessment and workplace prevention. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 69 male waste collectors from the Ruhr area in Germany underwent a customized testing protocol including a modified questionnaire, basic clinical examination, spirometry, and immunologic parameters. Subjects were classified according to their work tasks into loaders (n = 27), floaters (n = 29), and drivers (n = 13). We found that a high percentage of the workers had complaints (eyes 29.0 %, nose 39.1 %, and cough 34.8 %) which were strongly work-related.