BAKING-INDUSTRY
FLOUR-DUSTS
IMMUNE-REACTION

ALTERED PARTITION OF T CELL SUBSETS IN THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD OF HEALTHY WORKERS EXPOSED TO FLOUR DUST

The effects of occupational exposure to organic dusts on the immune system were investigated in workers exposed to flour. The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations was assessed in 34 bakers and 82 millers with a history of exposure to wheat flour dust and 51 referents without such exposure. Although the white blood cell counts of all of the subjects were within the normal range of reference values, bakery and mill workers had significantly higher counts compared with the referents. The millers and bakers demonstrated significantly lower levels of CD57 positive cells and mill workers had significantly fewer CD8/CD57 positive cells. Exposed workers had larger numbers of cells coexpressing CD45RA and CD4 compared with referents. The authors conclude that alterations in T-cell subsets in healthy workers exposed to wheat flour may limit the effects of repeated contact with this potentially immunogenic substance.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 28(4):497-504, 1995. (24 references)

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