Airflow Limitation and Changes in Pulmonary Function Among Bleachery Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Henneberger, Paul K. ; Mehta AJ ; Olin A-C ; Torén, Kjell
• Description:
  This study investigated whether chronic airflow limitation and rapid decline in pulmonary function were associated with peak exposures to ozone and other irritant gases in pulp mills. Bleachery workers potentially exposed to irritant gassings (n = 178) from three Swedish pulp mills, and a comparison group of workers not exposed to irritant gassings (n = 54) from two paper mills, were studied. Baseline surveys occurred in 1995-1996, with follow-up surveys in 1998-1999. Participants performed spirometry and answered questions regarding ozone, chlorine dioxide (ClO2), and sulphur dioxide (SO2) gassings. From regression models controlling for potential confounders, declines in both the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (-24 mL·yr-1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) (-19 mL·yr-1) were associated with ClO2/SO2 gassings. At follow-up, the prevalence of chronic airflow limitation (i.e. FEV1/FVC less than the lower limit of normal) was elevated for participants with only pre-baseline ozone gassings and with both pre-baseline and interval ozone gassings, after controlling for potential confounders. These findings suggest that obstructive effects among bleachery workers are associated with ozone gassings, and that adverse effects on spirometry might also accompany chlorine dioxide/sulphur dioxide gassings. Peak exposures to irritant gases in pulp mills should be prevented. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Irritants Lung Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Paper Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Airway-resistance Author Keywords: Airways Disease Humans Irritant-gases Lung-function Mathematical-models Occupational-exposure Ozone Exposure Paper-mills Pulmonary-function Pulmonary-system-disorders Pulmonary Function Pulp-industry Pulp Mill Workers Respiratory-system-disorders Spirometry

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• ISSN:
  0903-1936
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  133-139
• Volume:
  26
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20027468
• Citation:
  Eur Respir J 2005 Jul; 26(1):133-139
• Contact Point Address:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  pkh0@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chlorine (CAS RN 7782-50-5) ; Chlorine dioxide (CAS RN 10049-04-4) ; Ozone (CAS RN 10028-15-6) ; Sulfur dioxide (CAS RN 7446-09-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  European Respiratory Journal
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0003084c9fb90582df82d325e9f9d13eadf39d336a7cb8affe31c724ed1cc547c7e61342abe81cdfbd0d8dd7139292b14236696b762c30cf9a3bdbdabadcc85d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197583/cdc_197583_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 280.57 KB ]