The importance of bacterial endotoxins in cotton dusts for the acute exposure reactions has been documented during the last years. No information is available on beta-1,3 glucan which is part of the cell wall structure in moulds. Cotton dust was generated in an experimental cardroom, using cottons from different geographical locations. Determinations were made of particle size distribution and the amount of endotoxin and beta, 1-3 glucan on filters from total dust and vertical elutriator sampling using the LAL lysate and lysates specific for endotoxin and beta,1-3 glucan.

The amounts of beta,1-3 glucans found on the filters corresponded to levels of endotoxin. The endotoxin specific lysate generally yielded higher endotoxin values. Dust and endotoxin were mainly found in the <0.5 and 2-4 um particle size fractions. In view of the potential effects of beta,1-3 glucans to induce pulmonary inflammation, additional determinations of beta,1-3 glucans in cotton dust are needed.