Development and assessment of a method of measuring (1,3)-B-D-glucans in workplace air

(1,3)-B-D-glucans are compounds of biological origin (moulds, yeast, plants, certain bacteria). They may be present in the workplace air and can represent a toxinic risk for exposed workers.

The objectives of the study are to develop and to assess a method for measuring airborne (1,3)-B-D-glucans, to make it available to the CARSATs (French Occupational Health and Pension Insurance Funds), and to make it a first application in real exposure conditions. The study makes provision for a succession of five experimental stages. The first three stages include implementing the analysis bench and qualifying it, studying the characteristics of the assay method, and studying the influence of pre-processing the samples on analytical results. The fourth step makes provision to study the compatibility of the analysis with the main collection media, and the devices used for sampling bioaerosols. The final step makes provision to take the initial individual exposure measurements or ambient measurements in occupational environments in which (1,3)-B-D-glucans are likely to be encountered.

The study should lead to a method for measuring exposure to airborne (1,3)-B-D-glucans.
If its characteristics so permit, this method will be exportable to the CARSATs as a "MetrolPol" method. The findings should be disseminated to the scientific community.

Planned dissemination:
- Measurement method in the form of a MétroPol File
- Publication in a peer-reviewed international journal