Longitudinal Changes in Lung Function and Airflow Limitation in Pulp Mill Workers Reporting Ozone Gassing Incidents

Details

• Personal Author:
  Henneberger, Paul K. ; Mehta AJ ; Olin AC ; Torén, Kjell ; Henneberger, Paul K. ; Mehta AJ ; Olin AC ; Torén, Kjell
• Description:
  We investigated whether occupational exposure to ozone gassings in pulp mills was associated with increased airflow limitation and decline in lung function. We used both cross-sectional and longitudinal data in our analysis. Bleachery workers potentially exposed to ozone (n=179) from three Swedish pulp mills were studied, as was a comparison group of paper mill workers not exposed to ozone (n=62) from two of the three pulp mills. Initial and follow-up surveys took place in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Participants underwent spirometry testing and provided answers to a questionnaire regarding history of accidental exposure to ozone. gassings. Several- analyses suggested that bleachery workers with a history of four or more ozone gassings (n=25) had obstructive changes when compared to paper mill workers. The group of workers with at least 4 ozone gassings had lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and lower ratio of FEV1 over forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) in 1999, controlling for potential confounders (age, gender, height, weight, smoking) by linear regression analyses (-0.219 L, p=0.06; -2.69%, p=0.05, respectively). In another regression model controlling for potential confounders, this exposed group also had an additional 17 ml longitudinal decline in FEV1 (L/yr) between 1996 and 1999 in comparison to paper mill workers, although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.21). In 1999, workers with at least 4 gassings were also more likely to have airflow limitation (i.e., FEV1/FVC < 70%), although the association was not statistically significant at the p<0.05 level (prevalence ratio: 3.72, 95% CI: 0.66-20.94, p=0.14). These findings suggest that obstructive changes in lung function among pulp mill workers are associated with multiple ozone gassings. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Demography Epidemiology Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Health Paper Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Demographic-characteristics Humans Lung-function Paper-manufacturing-industry Paper-milling Paper-mills Pulmonary-disorders Pulmonary-function Pulmonary-system-disorders Pulp-industry Respiratory-system-disorders Spirometry Statistical-analysis

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• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary ; Proceedings ; Abstract or Summary ; Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies ; DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Volume:
  169
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026046
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004 Apr; 169(7)(Abstracts):A46
• Email:
  zuz9@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Ozone (CAS RN 10028-15-6) ; Ozone (CAS RN 10028-15-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
• Supplement:
  Abstracts
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1439b2cc264c018a9ebb4217eb4aa20b7b8f184318bf47f51f69e01ffe26aa2e34548d72b689d4b000ba13cb328f498f510dcefe20c6368f327dcff433c02efa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197168/cdc_197168_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 403.18 KB ]