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Updated: May 22, 2026

Assessment of the Cytotoxic and Immunomodulatory Effects of Substances in Human Precision-cut Lung Slices
Published on: May 9, 2018
Pulmonary function reductions among potentially susceptible subgroups of agricultural workers in Colorado and
Stephen J Reynolds1, Maggie L Clark, Niels Koehncke
1Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO 80523, USA. Stephen.Reynolds@Colostate.edu
Objective:
Organic dust inhalation has been associated with adverse respiratory responses among agricultural workers. We evaluated factors that may confer increased susceptibility to these health effects.
Methods:
We quantified personal work shift exposures to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and its 3-hydroxy fatty acid constituents, and evaluated changes in pulmonary function among 137 grain elevator, cattle feedlot, dairy, and corn farm workers.
Results:
Increased dust exposure was associated with work shift reductions in lung function. Although interpretation is limited because of small samples, a suggestion of stronger exposure-response relationships was observed among smokers, as well as workers reporting pesticide/herbicide application, asthma, or allergies, and those with genetic polymorphisms (TLR4) (Pinteraction ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions:
A better understanding of factors leading to increased susceptibility of adverse respiratory outcomes is needed to optimize exposure reduction strategies and develop more comprehensive wellness programs.
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