Biomaterial Database

Endotoxin in cotton dust and respiratory function decrement among cotton workers in an experimental cardroom. 1985

R Rylander, and P Haglind, and M Lundholm

To study the various reactions of gram-negative bacteria and their endotoxins observed in workers exposed to cotton dust, experiments were undertaken where cotton mill workers carded cottons from different geographic locations, each containing different amounts of bacterial endotoxins. Exposure was determined as the vertical elutriator dust and endotoxin levels. Measurements were made of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the number of blood neutrophils before and after work, and the prevalence of symptoms of byssinosis was recorded. There was a significant correlation between the vertical elutriator endotoxin levels and the group mean changes in FEV1 (p less than 0.01) but no correlation between vertical elutriator dust levels and changes in FEV1. There was also a dose-response relationship between the endotoxin levels and the presence of symptoms of byssinosis in the exposed workers as well as between endotoxin levels and an increase in blood neutrophils. This observation supports findings from several previous studies and suggests that endotoxin triggers the mechanisms responsible for the decrease in respiratory function in the byssinosis syndrome. Other constituents of cotton dust could also be of importance for this reaction.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007958	Leukocyte Count	The number of WHITE BLOOD CELLS per unit volume in venous BLOOD. A differential leukocyte count measures the relative numbers of the different types of white cells.	Blood Cell Count, White,Differential Leukocyte Count,Leukocyte Count, Differential,Leukocyte Number,White Blood Cell Count,Count, Differential Leukocyte,Count, Leukocyte,Counts, Differential Leukocyte,Counts, Leukocyte,Differential Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts, Differential,Leukocyte Numbers,Number, Leukocyte,Numbers, Leukocyte
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009504	Neutrophils	Granular leukocytes having a nucleus with three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine inconspicuous granules and stainable by neutral dyes.	LE Cells,Leukocytes, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils,Neutrophil Band Cells,Band Cell, Neutrophil,Cell, LE,LE Cell,Leukocyte, Polymorphonuclear,Neutrophil,Neutrophil Band Cell,Neutrophil, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil
D002095	Byssinosis	A condition of BRONCHOCONSTRICTION resulting from hypersensitive reaction to inhaled dust during the initial processing of cotton, flax, or hemp in the textile industry. Symptoms include wheezing and tightness in the chest.	Brown Lung,Brown Lung Disease,Brown Lung Diseases,Brown Lungs,Byssinoses
D003368	Gossypium	A plant genus of the family MALVACEAE. It is the source of COTTON FIBER; COTTONSEED OIL, which is used for cooking, and GOSSYPOL. The economically important cotton crop is a major user of agricultural PESTICIDES.	Cotton Plant,Cotton Plants,Gossypiums,Plant, Cotton,Plants, Cotton
D004731	Endotoxins	Toxins closely associated with the living cytoplasm or cell wall of certain microorganisms, which do not readily diffuse into the culture medium, but are released upon lysis of the cells.	Endotoxin
D004754	Enterobacter	Gram-negative gas-producing rods found in feces of humans and other animals, sewage, soil, water, and dairy products.
D004755	Enterobacteriaceae	A family of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that do not form endospores. Its organisms are distributed worldwide with some being saprophytes and others being plant and animal parasites. Many species are of considerable economic importance due to their pathogenic effects on agriculture and livestock.	Coliform Bacilli,Enterobacteria,Ewingella,Leclercia,Paracolobactrum,Sodalis
D005260	Female		Females