Exposure to Ozone and Other Irritant Gasses in Pulp Mills and the Onset of Rhinitis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Henneberger, Paul K. ; Hoffman C ; Olin AC ; Torén, Kjell
• Description:
  To examine the effect of exposure to gassings of ozone, chlorine dioxide, or sulphur dioxide on rhinitis onset among pulp mill workers. Workers from two sulphate pulp mills (n=I04) and two control paper mills, which had no gassing events (n=68), were included in the study. Rhinitis was self- reported and defined as ever having, since age 15, nasal problems such as nasal obstruction or sneezing apart from a cold. Gassings were self-reported as exposure to the gases resulting in coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, or pain in the thorax. Proportional hazard regression was used to model rhinitis onset while controlling for potential confounders. The incidence of rhinitis was greater for sulphate pulp mill workers exposed to ozone gassings versus paper mill workers (44 cases/IO' person-years versus 21 cases/IO', respectively), and the corresponding hazard ratio (HR) from regression analysis was 3.4, 95% CI 1.3,8.7. The sulphate workers not exposed to an ozone gassing were not found to be at an increased risk (HR 0.9,95% CI 0.3, 2.4). Also, a report of gassing with any of the three irritant gases (including ozone) was not related to rhinitis onset (HR 1.2, 95% CI 0.5,3.1). Sulphate pulp mill workers exposed to ozone gassings are at increased risk of rhinitis. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chlorine Compounds Irritants Nose Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Sense Organs Sulfur Compounds
• Keywords:
  Chlorine-compounds Gases Nasal-cavity Nasal-disorders Occupational-exposure Pulmonary-system-disorders Pulp-industry Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders Sulfur-compounds
• ISSN:
  1073-449X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary ; Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  165
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20022982
• Citation:
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002 Apr; 165(8)(Suppl):A526
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chlorine dioxide (CAS RN 10049-04-4) ; Ozone (CAS RN 10028-15-6) ; Sulfur dioxide (CAS RN 7446-09-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• NORA Priority Area:
  Other Occupational Concerns
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2002 International Conference, The American Thoracic Society, Atlanta Georgia, May 17-22, 2002
• Supplement:
  Suppl
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:157e6be4fea1f41dc8dd52fc6e5b73a0337bc1ae4190e9ab6a68556e429b4e00d9d5840b84d3592febc9986ce31c95f2de0d95d21b3a2a4b08be80f202068065
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199582/cdc_199582_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 180.96 KB ]