AEM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 16 October 2009

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Appl. Environ. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/AEM.00928-09
Copyright (c) 2009, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Assessment of total inflammatory potential of bioaerosols using a granulocyte assay

Michael Timm^*, Anne Mette Madsen, Jørgen Vinsløv Hansen, Lise Moesby, and Erik Wind Hansen

Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: mt{at}farma.ku.dk.

Occupational health symptoms related to bioaerosol exposure have been observed in a variety of working environments. Bioaerosols contain microorganisms and microbial components. The aim of this study was to estimate the total inflammatory potential (TIP) of bioaerosols using an in vitro assay based on granulocyte-like cells. A total of 129 bioaerosol samples were collected in the breathing zone of workers during their daily working routine at 22 biofuel plants. The samples were analysed by traditional assays for the content of dust, endotoxin, fungal spores, (13)--D-glucan, total number of bacteria, the enzyme N-acetyl--D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) primary originating from fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus, mesophilic and thermophilic actinomycetes; and secondly for TIP. In a multi linear regression four factors were significant for the TIP values obtained: endotoxin (p<0.0001), fungal spores (p<0.0001), (13)--D-glucan (p=0.0005) and mesophilic actinomycetes (p=0.0063). Using this model to estimate TIP values on the basis of microbial composition, the correlation to the measured values was r=0.91. When relating TIP values obtained in the granulocyte assay to the primary working area, we found that bioaerosol samples from personnel working in straw storage facilities showed high TIP (50xTIP of unstimulated control). In contrast, bioaerosol samples from personnel with work functions in offices or laboratories showed low TIP (5xTIP of unstimulated control). This indicates as expected that these areas were less contaminated. In conclusion, the granulocyte assay reacts to multiple contaminants in the environmental samples, and can be used to obtain a measurement of the total inflammatory potential. Therefore potential occupational health effects related to inflammation of the airways in a working environment can be estimated using this assay.