Respiratory symptoms and lung function abnormalities related to work at a flavouring manufacturing facility

Details

• Personal Author:
  Boylstein, Randy J. ; Cummings, Kristin J. ; Edwards, Nicole T. ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; LeBouf, Ryan F. ; Piacitelli, Chris A. ; Stanton, Marcia L.
• Description:
  Objectives: To better understand respiratory symptoms and lung function in flavouring manufacturing workers. Methods: We offered a questionnaire and lung function testing to the current workforce of a flavouring manufacturing facility that had transitioned away from diacetyl and towards substitutes in recent years. We examined symptoms, spirometric parameters and diffusing capacity measurements by exposure variables, including facility tenure and time spent daily in production areas. We used linear and logistic regression to develop final models adjusted for age and smoking status. Results: A total of 367 (93%) current workers participated. Shortness of breath was twice as common in those with tenure >/= 7 years (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6). Other chest symptoms were associated with time spent daily in production. Participants who spent >/= 1 h daily in production areas had twice the odds of any spirometric abnormality (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.1 to 5.3) and three times the odds of low diffusing capacity (OR 2.8; 95% CI 0.9 to 9.4) than other participants. Mean spirometric parameters were significantly lower in those with tenure >/= 7 years and those who spent >/= 1 h daily in production. Mean diffusing capacity parameters were significantly lower in those with tenure >/= 7 years. Differences in symptoms and lung function could not be explained by age, smoking status or employment at another flavouring plant. Conclusions: Symptoms and lung function findings were consistent with undiagnosed or subclinical obliterative bronchiolitis and associated with workplace exposures. Further efforts to lower exposures to flavouring chemicals, including diacetyl substitutes, are warranted. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Food Additives Lung Lung Diseases Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Surveys And Questionnaires

  More +
• Keywords:
  Chemical-factory-workers Chemical-manufacturing-industry Chemical-processing Diffusion-analysis Employee-exposure Food-additives Health-surveys HETA 2012-0012-3192 Lung-disorders Lung-function Mathematical-models Occupational-exposure Pulmonary-function-tests Pulmonary-system-disorders Questionnaires Respiratory-system-disorders Spirometry Worker-health

  More +
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• 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
• Volume:
  71
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044401
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2014 Aug; 71(8):549-554
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Kristin J Cummings, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, MS 2800, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
• Email:
  kcummings@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Butanedione (CAS RN 431-03-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:afb9d837fdd7f88bbb666ad50738bd8821e7a40e01ffcfcb9746c00afb37299cc60c7ccbd604cbbe1cad86dcb67291dcdfdef4465e8bd36fcd9eff7662757f26
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/200109/cdc_200109_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 245.62 KB ]