Workplace Determinants of Endotoxin Exposure in Dental Healthcare Facilities in South Africa

Objectives: Aerosols generated during dental procedures have been reported to contain endotoxin as a result of bacterial contamination of dental unit water lines. This study investigated the determinants of airborne endotoxin exposure in dental healthcare settings. Methods: The study population incl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Annals of occupational hygiene 2010-04, Vol.54 (3), p.299-308
Main Authors: Singh, Tanusha S., Bello, Braimoh, Mabe, Onnicah D., Renton, Kevin, Jeebhay, Mohamed F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aerosols
Aerosols - analysis
Air Microbiology
Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor - statistics & numerical data
Analysis of Variance
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dental Equipment - microbiology
Dental Facilities
Dental Staff
Dentistry
Dentists
DUWLs
endotoxin
Endotoxins - analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Equipment Contamination
Humans
Microclimate
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data
occupational hazard
Original
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Seasons
South Africa
Water Microbiology
Workplace
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Summary:Objectives: Aerosols generated during dental procedures have been reported to contain endotoxin as a result of bacterial contamination of dental unit water lines. This study investigated the determinants of airborne endotoxin exposure in dental healthcare settings. Methods: The study population included dental personnel (n = 454) from five academic dental institutions in South Africa. Personal air samples (n = 413) in various dental jobs and water samples (n = 403) from dental handpieces and basin taps were collected. The chromogenic-1000 limulus amebocyte lysate assay was used to determine endotoxin levels. Exposure metrics were developed on the basis of individually measured exposures and average levels within each job category. Analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression models were constructed to ascertain the determinants of exposure in the dental group. Results: There was a 2-fold variation in personal airborne endotoxin from the least exposed (administration) to the most exposed (laboratory) jobs (geometric mean levels: 2.38 versus 5.63 EU m−3). Three percent of personal samples were above DECOS recommended exposure limit (50 EU m−3). In the univariate linear models, the age of the dental units explained the most variability observed in the personal air samples (R2 = 0.20, P 
ISSN:0003-4878
1475-3162
1475-3162
DOI:10.1093/annhyg/mep095