[ACC]
Occupational Exposure
Environmental concentrations of endotoxins are measured in Endotoxin Units (EU) per m3 (based on biological activity) or ng/m3 (based on chemical activity). There are no strict regulations pertaining to permissible levels of endotoxins in the U.S. As well as the Europe. However, the international commission on occupational health has prescribed levels of endotoxins at which the toxicity is acute. Based on the report released by the commission, at concentrations of 20-50 ng/m3 endotoxin exposure leads to irritation of mucous membrane, at 100-200 ng/m3 acute brocho constriction is reported while very high levels such as 1000-2000 ng/m3 leads to organic dust toxic syndrome. In view of the high risks of occupational exposure several studies have focused on occupational contamination. The results from these studies show that the typical endotoxin concentrations at sewage processing plants, cattle sheds and grain processing units are 0 to 330 ng/m3, 1000 to 10,000 ng/m3 and 0 to 70,000 ng/m3 respectively. [Eliot Epstein]
Some studies focused on occupational health have reported increased prevalence of neurological and gastrointestinal disorders among sewage workers. Symptoms of endotoxin exposure are high among sewage workers as the human waste contains very high concentrations of endotoxins. One recent study by Smit et.al (2005) reported endotoxin exposure as one of the main causes for most of the symptoms. The study found that exposures to endotoxins at levels higher than 50 EU/m (3) was associated with more severe symptoms. 'Lower respiratory symptoms', 'skin symptoms', 'flu like and systemic symptoms' are commonly reported conditions at...
[Smit et.al, (2005)]
Conclusion
Endotoxins are ubiquitous. There is certainly the possibility of a major health risk due to endotoxic contamination and exposure. Particularly, for people living in flooded areas and damp zones and for those who are occupationally exposed to higher concentrations of endotoxins (grain processing units, sewage farms, poultry, etc.) the risk of developing adverse health conditions is very high. As the Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommends, any concentration that is more than ten times that of the background levels is considered hazardous [NRDC]and it is incumbent upon industrialists and corporates to ensure that the working conditions do not exceed exposure levels that can be seriously harmful.
Bibliography
1) Eliot Epstein, PhD, 'Fact Sheet: Endotoxins', Accessed 26th Mar 2009, Available at, www.compostingcouncil.org/download.php?r=21&f=d6a6ea1ce4192ed082acf6a64bfa1774.pdf
2) NRDC, 'New Orleans Environmental Quality Test Results', Accessed 26th Mar 2009, Available at, http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/katrinadata/endotoxin.asp
3) Smit LA, Spaan S, Heederik D. (2005) Endotoxin exposure and symptoms in wastewater treatment workers. Am J. Ind Med 48:30 -- 9
4) ACC, 'Limulus Amebocyte Lysate-LAL for the detection and Quantitation of Gram negative Bacterial Endotoxins', http://www.acciusa.com/pdfs/accProduct/pisheets/Chromo-LAL%20Insert%20English.pdf
5) Kenneth Todar, PhD, ' Online Textbook of Bacteriology: Bacterial Endotoxin', 2008,
Available at, http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/endotoxin.html
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