Pulmonary function changes in Vermont granite workers.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ashikaga T ; Graham WG ; Hemenway D ; O'Grady R ; Weaver S
• Description:
  A study of pulmonary function changes in Vermont granite workers was conducted. The impetus for the study was previous studies that suggested that significant decreases in 1 second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were occurring in Vermont granite workers due to overexposure to granite dust, despite the fact that quartz (14808607) exposures in the workers were below 100 micrograms per cubic meter, the current OSHA standard. Biannual spirometric testing was offered to all workers in the Vermont granite industry during the period 1979 through 1987; since 711 workers, mean age 42.9 years, were tested at least three times their FEV1 and FVC data were taken for analysis. Their average number of years in granite work was 19.3 years. There were 316 smokers, 243 former smokers, and 152 never smokers. Overall mean yearly decrements in FEV1, FVC, and the FEV1/FVC ratio were 0.25 and 0.036 liters and 0.37%, respectively. The decreases were highest for the smokers and the least for nonsmokers. The FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio decrements were significantly lower than those reported previously. Covariance analysis revealed that initial FVC, height, age, and smoking had significant effects on the decreases in FVC and FEV1. Years in granite work did not significantly affect the decreases in FVC and FEV1. The authors conclude that the current losses in pulmonary function of Vermont granite workers are comparable to those of nondust exposed working populations. Current dust exposures in the granite industry do not contribute to the loss of FVC and FEV1.
• Subjects:
  Accident Prevention Accidents Accidents, Occupational Construction Industry Education Laboratories Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Cigarette Smoking Epidemiology Mineral Dusts Mining Industry Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Pulmonary Function Tests
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Conference/Symposia Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania ; Vermont
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  870-872
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00198671
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108, 1990 Nov; (Part II):870-872
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1991
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Part Number:
  II
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6124c002182423e238c99723c0f6558167959ea44de28cea55271409979b46906284923d7b3e9d8ba18f8ca9126d7f2c681786ea6e1fa04b413f6f5579adbbe4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180586/cdc_180586_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 108.31 KB ]