An algorithm for quantitatively estimating occupational endotoxin exposure in the biomarkers of exposure and effect in agriculture study: II. Application to the study population

Melissa C Friesen; Laura E Beane Freeman; Sarah J Locke; Pabitra R Josse; Shuai Xie; Susan Marie Viet; Jean-François Sauvé; Gabriella Andreotti; Peter S Thorne; Jonathan N Hofmann

doi:10.1002/ajim.23485

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An algorithm for quantitatively estimating occupational endotoxin exposure in the biomarkers of exposure and effect in agriculture study: II. Application to the study population

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An algorithm for quantitatively estimating occupational endotoxin exposure in the biomarkers of exposure and effect in agriculture study: II. Application to the study population

Melissa C Friesen, Laura E Beane Freeman, Sarah J Locke, Pabitra R Josse, Shuai Xie, Susan Marie Viet, Jean-François Sauvé, Gabriella Andreotti, Peter S Thorne and Jonathan N Hofmann

American journal of industrial medicine, Vol.66(7), pp.573-586

07/2023

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23485

PMCID: PMC10265745

PMID: 37087683

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Abstract

We developed an algorithm to quantitatively estimate endotoxin exposure for farmers in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture (BEEA) Study. The algorithm combined task intensity estimates derived from published data with questionnaire responses on activity duration to estimate task-specific cumulative endotoxin exposures for 13 tasks during four time windows, ranging from "past 12 months" to "yesterday/today." We applied the algorithm to 1681 participants in Iowa and North Carolina. We examined correlations in endotoxin metrics within- and between-task. We also compared these metrics to prior day full-shift inhalable endotoxin concentrations from 32 farmers. The highest median task-specific cumulative exposures were observed for swine confinement, poultry confinement, and grind feed. Inter-quartile ranges showed substantial between-subject variability for most tasks. Time window-specific metrics of the same task were moderately-highly correlated. Between-task correlation was variable, with moderately-high correlations observed for similar tasks (e.g., between animal-related tasks). Prior day endotoxin concentration increased with the total metric and with task metrics for swine confinement, clean other animal facilities, and clean grain bins. This study provides insight into the variability and sources of endotoxin exposure among farmers in the BEEA study and summarizes exposure estimates for future investigations in this population.

bioaersosol exposures

occupational questionnaires

farming activities

endotoxin exposures

Details

Title: Subtitle: An algorithm for quantitatively estimating occupational endotoxin exposure in the biomarkers of exposure and effect in agriculture study: II. Application to the study population
Creators: Melissa C Friesen - National Cancer Institute
Laura E Beane Freeman - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Sarah J Locke - National Cancer Institute
Pabitra R Josse - National Cancer Institute
Shuai Xie - National Cancer Institute
Susan Marie Viet - Westat (United States)
Jean-François Sauvé - Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité
Gabriella Andreotti - National Cancer Institute
Peter S Thorne - University of Iowa
Jonathan N Hofmann - National Cancer Institute
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of industrial medicine, Vol.66(7), pp.573-586
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23485
PMID: 37087683
PMCID: PMC10265745
NLM abbreviation: Am J Ind Med
eISSN: 1097-0274
Grant note: Intramural Research Program of NIH, NCI, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 04/23/2023
Date published: 07/2023
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
Record Identifier: 9984399495302771

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