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.
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.