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Bonlokke JH, Bang B, Aasmoe L, Rahman AMA, Syron LN, Andersson E, Dahlman-Höglund A, Lopata AL, Jeebhay M. Exposures and Health Effects of Bioaerosols in Seafood Processing Workers - a Position Statement. J Agromedicine 2019; 24:441-448. [PMID: 31453763 PMCID: PMC9048166 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2019.1646685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Occupational hazards exist in the processing of seafood both in land-based facilities as well as on board vessels. Recent findings on occupational injury and respiratory health risks among seafood processing workers were presented and discussed at the IFISH5 conference. Particular emphasis was put on the challenges that im/migrant workers encounter, the greater risks onboard factory vessels, especially where processing machinery are retrofitted to older vessels not primarily designed for this purpose, and the difficulties in assessing and preventing bioaerosol exposures and associated respiratory health risks despite recent advances in characterising agents responsible for allergic and non-allergic reactions. Based on appraisal of existing knowledge in the published literature and new findings presented at the conference, recommendations for immediate actions as well as for future research have been proposed. Among these include the importance of improving extraction ventilation systems, optimising machinery performance, enclosure of bioaerosol sources, improved work organization, and making special efforts to identify and support the needs of im/migrant workers to ensure they also benefit from such improvements. There is a need for studies that incorporate longitudinal study designs, have improved exposure and diagnostic methods, and that address seafood processing in countries with high seafood processing activities such as Asia and those that involve im/migrant workers worldwide. The medical and scientific community has an important role to play in prevention but cannot do this in isolation and should cooperate closely with hygienists, engineers, and national and international agencies to obtain better health outcomes for workers in the seafood industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob H Bonlokke
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Berit Bang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Medical Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lisbeth Aasmoe
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Medical Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anas M Abdel Rahman
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Laura N Syron
- Western States Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Eva Andersson
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Dahlman-Höglund
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andreas L Lopata
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.,Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Mohamed Jeebhay
- Occupational Medicine Division and Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Cavalli L, Jeebhay MF, Marques F, Mitchell R, Neis B, Ngajilo D, Watterson A. Scoping Global Aquaculture Occupational Safety and Health. J Agromedicine 2019; 24:391-404. [PMID: 31448696 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2019.1655203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: In 2017 the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries committed to prioritize occupational safety and health issues in aquaculture (AOSH). An international team was established to synthesize OSH knowledge concerning more than 19 million, often vulnerable, aquaculture workers found globally.Methods: The study was conducted as a desktop scoping exercise using both peer-reviewed and gray literature and the knowledge and expertize of an international panel. Collated information used a standard proforma. Panel members developed draft national and regional AOSH profiles outlining occupational hazards contributing to occupational injuries, diseases, and known solutions. These were work-shopped and refined after gathering additional information and used to compile the first global scoping review report on AOSH.Results: Synthesized results revealed multiple hazards, significant global knowledge gaps and some successful and unsuccessful global, national and industry-specific AOSH policies, practices and standards along the primary supply chain, in marine and freshwater contexts. Some constructive initiatives by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and FAO, industry, labor and civil society groups in a range of employment and geographical settings and across diverse populations of workers were identified.Conclusion: Global commitment to AOSH should be given the same focus as product quality, biosecurity, food safety and environmental sustainability in the sector. This needs development and implementation of integrated AOSH actions appropriate for diverse settings especially in low and middle-income countries encompassing greater uptake of international codes, better risk assessment and OSH management, adoption of technological innovations, effective OSH regulation and enforcement, adequate resources, training and information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissandra Cavalli
- Health and Biosafety/Technological Innovation in Aquaculture, Department of Agricultural Diagnosis and Research - DDPA, Secretariat of Agriculture of the State of Rio Grande do Sul - Seapdr, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mohamed F Jeebhay
- Occupational Medicine Division/Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Flavielle Marques
- Department of Agricultural Diagnosis and Research - DDPA, Secretariat of Agriculture of the State of Rio Grande do Sul - Seapdr, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rebecca Mitchell
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Barbara Neis
- SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research and Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Dorothy Ngajilo
- Occupational Medicine Division/Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew Watterson
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, Public Health & Population Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
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Goossens A, Amaro C, Mahler V. Protein Contact Dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-72451-5_21-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Bertelsen RJ, Svanes Ø, Madsen AM, Hollund BE, Kirkeleit J, Sigsgaard T, Uhrbrand K, Do TV, Aasen TB, Svanes C. Pulmonary illness as a consequence of occupational exposure to shrimp shell powder. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 148:491-499. [PMID: 27148672 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES An employee with no prior history of allergy or asthma, experienced respiratory and flu-like symptoms during production of shrimp shell powder in a seafood savory factory in Norway. We aimed to clarify the diagnosis and to identify the cause of the symptoms by specific inhalation challenge (SIC) and by characterizing the powder's biocontaminants, particle size fractions and inflammatory potential. METHODS Respiratory and immunological responses were measured the day before and after each of four challenges with 20-150g shrimp shell powder during three consecutive days. The powder was analyzed for endotoxin, microorganisms and particle size fractions by standardized laboratory methods. Total inflammatory potential was quantified by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a granulocyte assay. RESULTS The patient had elevated IgG, but not IgE, towards shrimp shell powder. 20min challenge with 150g shrimp shell powder induced 15% decrease in FVC, 23% decrease in FEV1 and increased unspecific bronchial reactivity by methacholine. Neutrophils and monocytes increased 84% and 59%, respectively, and the patient experienced temperature increase and flu-like symptoms. The shrimp shell powder contained 1118 endotoxin units/g and bacteria including Bacillus cereus, and 57% respirable size fraction when aerosolized. The ROS production was higher for shrimp shell powder than for endotoxin alone. CONCLUSIONS Endotoxin and other bacterial components combined with a high fraction of respirable dust might be the cause of the symptoms. The patient's characteristics and response to SIC were best compatible with occupational asthma and organic dust toxic syndrome, while hypersensitivity pneumonitis could not be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi Jacobsen Bertelsen
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7804, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Øistein Svanes
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7804, N-5020 Bergen, Norway; Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bjørg Eli Hollund
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7804, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Jorunn Kirkeleit
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7804, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Torben Sigsgaard
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Katrine Uhrbrand
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thien Van Do
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Tor B Aasen
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Cecilie Svanes
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway; Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
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Kamath SD, Thomassen MR, Saptarshi SR, Nguyen HM, Aasmoe L, Bang BE, Lopata AL. Molecular and immunological approaches in quantifying the air-borne food allergen tropomyosin in crab processing facilities. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2014; 217:740-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 03/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Lopata AL, Jeebhay MF. Airborne seafood allergens as a cause of occupational allergy and asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2013; 13:288-97. [PMID: 23575656 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-013-0347-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Occupational allergy and asthma is a serious adverse health outcome affecting seafood-processing workers. Allergic reactions are directed to two major seafood groups: fish and shellfish, with the latter group comprising crustaceans and molluscs. Several allergenic proteins have been identified in these different groups, but few have been characterised on a molecular level. Parvalbumin appears to be the major fish allergen, while tropomyosin the major crustacean allergen. Other IgE-binding proteins have also been identified in molluscs and other seafood-associated agents (e.g. Anisakis sp), although their molecular nature has not been characterised. Aerosolised allergens can be identified and quantified using immunological and chemical approaches, detecting levels as low as 10 ng/m(3). This contemporary review discusses interesting and recent findings in the area of occupational seafood allergy including high-risk occupations, environmental risk factors for airborne exposures, major and minor allergens implicated and innovative approaches in diagnosing and managing occupational allergy and asthma associated with seafood processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas L Lopata
- School of Pharmacy and Molecular Science, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
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Fishwick D. New occupational and environmental causes of asthma and extrinsic allergic alveolitis. Clin Chest Med 2013; 33:605-16. [PMID: 23153603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Asthma and extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) remain prevalent respiratory diseases and the cause of a significant disease burden. This article reviews the recent occupational and environmental causes described for these conditions. Even over the limited time spam addressed by this article, novel agents and new data relating to already suggested causes have been described. Various types of work tasks or exposures are described that appear to cause both asthma and EAA. Isocyanates, the best example of dual potential to cause asthma and EAA are discussed, as is the new understanding of the role metal-working fluids play when causing respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Fishwick
- Centre for Workplace Health, Health and Safety Laboratories, The University of Sheffield, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 3JN, UK.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review focuses on seafood workers engaged in harvesting, processing and food preparation. These groups are increasingly at risk of developing occupational allergy and respiratory disease as a result of seafood handling and processing activities. This review provides an update of a previous review conducted a decade ago. RECENT FINDINGS Exposure characterization studies have demonstrated that aerosolization of seafood (muscle, visceral organs, skin/mucin) during canning and fishmeal operations result in highly variable levels of airborne particulate (0.001-11.293 mg/m3) and allergens (0.001-75.748 ug/m3). Occupational asthma is more commonly associated with shellfish (4-36%) than with bony fish (2-8%). Other seafood-associated biological (Anisakis) and chemical agents (protease enzymes, toxins and preservatives) have also been implicated. Atopy, smoking and level of exposure to allergens are significant risk factors for sensitization and the development of occupational asthma. Molecular studies of the allergens suggest that aside from tropomyosin and parvalbumin, other as yet uncharacterized allergens are important. SUMMARY Future research needs to focus on detailed characterization of allergens in order to standardize exposure assessment techniques, which are key to assessing the impact of interventions. The clinical relevance of agents such as serine proteases and endotoxins in causing asthma through nonallergic mechanisms needs further epidemiological investigation.
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Rakers S, Gebert M, Uppalapati S, Meyer W, Maderson P, Sell AF, Kruse C, Paus R. ‘Fish matters’: the relevance of fish skin biology to investigative dermatology. Exp Dermatol 2010; 19:313-24. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2009.01059.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Beach J. In this issue of Occupational Medicine. Occup Med (Lond) 2009. [DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqp082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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