Table 2 Full-shift bioaerosol exposure of grain and animal feed industry workers in Norway.

From: Circulating miRNAs as molecular markers of occupational grain dust exposure

Exposure parameter

n

AM

GM

GSD

Above OEL (%)

Grain dust (mg/m3)

44

1.6

0.9

3.00

7

Endotoxin (EU/m3)

43

1,252

439

5.15

84

β-1 → 3-glucan (µg/m3)

44

14.7

6.4

4.49

No OEL

Bacteria (counts/m3)

44

52 × 104

20 × 104

5.53

14

Fungal spores counts/m3)

44

7.8 × 104

3.5 × 104

3.30

18

  1. AM arithmetic mean, GM geometric mean of log10 transformed values, GSD geometric standard deviation, OEL occupational exposure limit. Norwegian OELs: grain dust (organic dust) = 5 mg/m3; endotoxins = 90 EU/m3 (health-based recommended); bacteria = 106 counts/m3 (suggested based on lowest observed effect levels); fungal spores = 105 counts/m3 (suggested based on lowest observed effect levels).
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