Effects of plant features on symptoms and airway inflammation in compost workers followed over 18 months

Abstract

This study investigated the plant features associated with increased irritation symptoms and levels of inflammation markers among compost workers (CWs). Ninety CWs were followed over 18 months, using questionnaires on respiratory symptoms, fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurements, spirometry, a methacholine bronchial challenge test, and quantification of specific immunoglobulins E (IgE) and G. CWs in plants processing the highest quantities of waste exhibited more airway irritation symptoms. So did the CWs in partially and fully indoor plants as compared to those in plants entirely outdoors. Working in sewage sludge versus green waste plants and having a high level of exposure were associated with higher levels of different IgE. The duration of employment decreased the FEV₁ by 16 ml per year. Working in an indoor plant is linked to symptoms and inflammation markers in CWs.

Keywords:

• Compost workers
• airway inflammation
• nonspecific bronchial challenge test
• fractional exhaled nitric oxide
• specific immunoglobulins

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the workers who participated and to the plant managers. This study would not have been possible without the technical work of Christine Bertrand, Régis Colin, Catherine Coulais, Mathieu Dziurla,Guylaine Greff-Mirguet, Cécile Piernot, Dominique Rousselle, Monique Veillé and Elise Wilhelm, of the INRS.

Competing interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical approval

The study design and protocol were approved by the local ethics committee (the Comité de Protection des Personnes Est-III, references: N°2008-A00462-53, N°CPP: 08.06.04). This study has been carried out in accordance with The Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) for experiments involving humans.

Data sharing statement

The data that support the findings of this study are not available for legal reasons. Access to research data must be authorized by the French independent administrative authority (CNIL) before the study begins.