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Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171
Table A2. Personal breathing zone air sampling results for inhalable wheat
Exposure
group
Position description
#
samples
Concentration
(mg/m
3
)
Median
Min
Max
Lower
Bagger operator or twin bagger operator
3
0.00463
*
0.0053
Frozen shipping
3
0.00321
*
0.013
Grader
2
0.0225
0.00047
0.044
Ingredients warehouse
1
0.0000254
—
—
Packer
6
0.00788
*
0.44
Pallet jack or manual pallet jack operator
2
0.0391
0.013
0.065
Quality assurance production and
support
4
0.0120
0.00049
0.045
Receiving
2
*
*
*
Stack off or stacker
1
0.0176
—
—
Temperature checker
1
0.00622
—
—
Line 6
7
*
*
0.027
Cups
3
*
*
0.016
Higher
Bone checker marination
3
0.0470
0.029
0.054
Bread
and batter operator
14
0.614
0.30
1.8
Foremax operator
2
0.343
0.21
0.48
Lay-on
23
0.188
*
0.66
Marination
2
0.0273
0.019
0.035
Oven operator
6
0.147
0.0034
0.32
Quality assurance technicians
6
0.0185
*
0.25
Lay-on post fryer
7
0.0589
0.012
0.96
Line leader
2
0.197
0.14
0.25
Min = minimum
Max = maximum
*Not detected
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Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171
Table A3. Personal breathing zone air sampling results for inhalable soy
Exposure
group
Position description
#
samples
Concentration
(µg/m
3
)
Median
Min
Max
Lower
Bagger operator or twin bagger operator
3
*
*
*
Frozen shipping
3
*
*
0.022
Grader
2
*
*
*
Ingredients warehouse
1
*
—
—
Packer
6
*
*
0.32
Pallet jack or manual pallet jack operator
2
*
*
*
Quality assurance production and support
4
*
*
*
Receiving
2
0.0168
*
0.034
Stack off or stacker
1
*
—
—
Temperature checker
1
*
—
—
Line 6
7
0.0120
*
0.041
Cups
3
*
*
*
Higher
Bone checker marination
3
*
*
*
Bread and batter operator
14
1.55
*
7.2
Foremax operator
2
0.133
0.12
0.14
Lay-on
23
0.414
*
1.2
Marination
2
0.121
*
0.24
Oven operator
6
0.146
*
0.43
Quality assurance technicians
6
0.00499
*
0.80
Lay-on post fryer
7
0.0823
*
2.3
Line leader
2
0.178
*
0.36
Min = minimum
Max = maximum
*Not detected
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Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171
Appendix B: Methods
Study Population
We asked all employees to participate in order to compare sensitization and symptom
prevalences between groups of employees with differing levels of exposure to flour dust and
spices. We also wanted to characterize exposure in different departments.
Informed Consent and Notification
All potential study participants were given a consent form to read and sign. Each study
participant was informed in writing of his or her own blood test results and what they meant.
Biological Samples
Approximately 15 milliliters of whole blood was collected from each participant.
Venipuncture was performed by a physician or a trained technician following the universal
precautions for working with blood and blood products specified by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention [CDC 1998] and OSHA [29 CFR 1910.1030]. After venipuncture,
the blood was centrifuged and the serum transported to the NIOSH laboratory for analysis.
Specific IgE to flour dust, wheat, soybean, corn, paprika, garlic, and onion allergens was
measured using an IMMULITE® 2000 3gAllergy™ instrument (DPC, Los Angeles,
California). The IMMULITE 2000 is a Food and Drug Administration-cleared enzyme-
enhanced chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay that quantifies specific IgE antibody. The
IMMULITE 2000 has a cutoff of 0.10 killiunits per liter of serum (kU/L) IgE. The insert for
the Immulite 3gAllergy™ Specific IgE Universal Kit describes two scoring systems, both of
which classify specific IgE levels > 0.10 kU/L–0.34 kU/L (standard classification) and > 0.11
kU/L–0.24 kU/L (extended classification) as very low.
The IMMULITE 2000 AlaTOP Allergy Screen (12 allergens) is a Food and Drug
Administration-cleared qualitative chemiluminescent enzyme-labeled sequential
immunoassay. The 12 allergens included on the matrix are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
(dust mite), cat epithelium, dog dander, Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), Phleum pretense
(timothy grass), Penicillium notatum, Alternaria tenuis, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common
ragweed), Plantago lanceolata (English plantain), Parietaria officinalis (wall pellitory),
Betula papyrifera (paper birch), and
Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar). A reactive
result indicates that antibodies to one or more of the component allergens in the panel
are present and the tested individual is classified as atopic. A nonreactive result indicates
nondetectable antibodies to the component allergens.