Work-related health effects in swine building workers after respiratory protection use.

OBJECTIVE To compare inflammation and lung function in swine workers after periods with and without respiratory protection during work. METHODS Twenty-three workers were examined before and after two nonprotected work shifts. One shift was preceded by a period with diminished exposure by use of respirators. The other shift was preceded by an unprotected period of work. RESULTS Endotoxin concentrations were similarly high (24,636 and 28,775 endotoxin units/m(3)). A 3.1% cross-shift decline in forced vital capacity occurred after the period with respiratory protection (P = 0.01). Blood leukocytes increased more (P = 0.01) and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein was reduced (P = 0.015) only after the period with respiratory protection. Plasma interleukin-6 increased (P < 0.0001) during both visits. CONCLUSION Respiratory protection resulted in cross-shift inflammatory and respiratory reactions at return to unprotected work.