Document Detail


Immunological findings in hemp workers.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  1464288     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Immunological status and its relation to respiratory findings were studied in 42 female textile workers occupationally exposed to hemp dust and in 49 female control workers. Skin prick tests with hemp or flax dust extracts from different parts of the mill in hemp workers demonstrated the following frequencies of positive tests to antigens: a mixture of hemp and flax extracts (64%), followed by flax extracts (48%), hemp from combing machines (41%), hemp from carding machines (38%), hemp from spinning and weaving machines (33%), and hemp from softening machines (20%). The prevalence of positive skin tests to hemp or flax allergens in control workers was consistently lower, ranging from 21 to 5%. Increased total serum IgE was recorded in 35.7% of hemp workers compared to only 5.0% of control workers (P < 0.05). Hemp workers with positive skin tests had significantly higher prevalences of chronic respiratory symptoms than those with negative skin tests. There were, however, no differences for acute symptoms between workers with positive and negative skin tests. Across-shift changes and baseline lung function were not different when compared by immunologic status. We showed additionally that a water-soluble extract of hemp dust causes a dose-related contraction of nonsensitized guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle when studied in vitro. Our results suggest that frequent immunologic abnormalities can be documented in hemp workers but, with the exception of chronic respiratory symptoms, in general, these do not correlate with respiratory findings.
Authors:
E Zuskin; B Kanceljak; E N Schachter; T J Witek; S Maayani; S Goswami; Z Marom; N Rienzi
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Environmental research     Volume:  59     ISSN:  0013-9351     ISO Abbreviation:  Environ. Res.     Publication Date:  1992 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1993-01-19     Completed Date:  1993-01-19     Revised Date:  2007-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0147621     Medline TA:  Environ Res     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  350-61     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Animals
Byssinosis / epidemiology,  immunology
Cannabis*
Croatia
Dust / adverse effects*
Female
Guinea Pigs
Humans
Immunoglobulin E / blood
Middle Aged
Muscle Contraction
Muscle, Smooth / physiopathology
Occupational Diseases / epidemiology,  immunology*
Pharynx / microbiology
Prevalence
Respiratory Function Tests
Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology,  immunology
Skin Tests
Textile Industry*
Trachea
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01-OHO 2593-O1A1/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS; YF 733//PHS HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Dust; 37341-29-0/Immunoglobulin E

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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