Bioaerosol Exposures and Respiratory Diseases in Cannabis Workers

• Published in: Current allergy and asthma reports Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 395 - 406
• Main Authors: Eidem, Tess, Nordgren, Tara, Hernandez, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerosols - adverse effects; Air Pollutants, Occupational - adverse effects; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Allergology; Cannabis - adverse effects; Humans; Marijuana; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Diseases - etiology; Review; Topical Collection on Occupational Allergies; Workers; United States > US; Cannabis Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA); Aeroallergens; Cannabis Manufacturing; Occupational Respiratory Exposure; Microbial Inhalation Hazards; Bioaerosols
• ISSN: 1529-7322; 1534-6315; 1534-6315
• DOI: 10.1007/s11882-024-01157-7

Purpose of Review
This review investigates occupational inhalation hazards associated with biologically derived airborne particles (bioaerosols) generated in indoor cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facilities.
Recent Findings
Indoor cannabis production is growing across the US as are recent reports of respiratory diseases among cannabis workers, including occupational asthma morbidity and mortality. More information is needed to understand how bioaerosol exposure in cannabis facilities impacts worker health and occupational disease risk.
Summary
Preliminary studies demonstrate a significant fraction of airborne particles in cannabis facilities are comprised of fungal spores, bacteria, and plant material, which may also contain hazardous microbial metabolites and allergens. These bioaerosols may pose pathogenic, allergenic, toxigenic, and pro-inflammatory risks to workers. The absence of multi-level, holistic bioaerosol research in cannabis work environments necessitates further characterization of the potential respiratory hazards and effective risk prevention methods to safeguard occupational health as the cannabis industry continues to expand across the US and beyond.