P2.1 ASTHMA IN COTTON FACTORY WORKERS

E. Platkov^1,2, S. Tzvetkov², E. Shlyakhov¹, V. Buyevich¹.¹Department for Occupational & Environmental Health, Sanz Medical Center, Netanya, Israel; ²State Center for Occupational and Allergic Diseases, Minsk, Belarus

Introduction: Occupational related exposure to cotton dust has been implicated in exacerbation of airway diseases, including byssinosis, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. The role of separate components of cotton dust as agents of asthma among cotton factory workers still remains unclear.

Material and methods: A group of 158 cotton factory workers (77 with asthma and 81 with chronic bronchitis) was examined using a number of clinical and allergological tests. The working place environment was investigated for airborne cotton dust, bacteria, and moulds.

Results: Practically each technological stage demonstrated a concentration of airborne cotton dust exceeding threshold limit value. The cotton dust was contaminated with moulds (Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria tenuis, Candida albicans), and bacteria (staphylococci and aerogenic bacilli). The prevalence of asthma in this cotton factory was 25.5/1000 workers. The majority of patients with asthma (84.3%) was exposed to cotton dust for ⩾16 years, and the asthma duration was 6 years on average. In workers with asthma, a high level of specific IgE-antibodies to fungoid allergens (Alternaria and Candida) and specific IgG-antibodies to cotton fibre allergen were revealed. An immunomodulator “thymogen” used in asthmatic patients effected a decrease of allergen specific IgG antibodies and clinical asthma improvement.

Conclusion: Allergen specific antibodies to some component of cotton dust were discovered among cotton factory workers with asthma, thus demonstrating participation of the antibodies in the complex asthma pathogenesis.

P2.2 RESPIRATORY RESPONSE TO ENDOTOXIN PREDICTS SYSTEMIC RESPONSE IN VOLUNTEERS IN A SWINE BARN

J. A. Dosman¹, Y. Fukushima², A. Senthilselvan³, S. P. Kirychuk¹, P. Pahwa¹.¹University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; ²Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; ³University …