Respiratory function in workers employed in the glassblowing industry

Details

• Personal Author:
  Butkovic D ; Mustajbegovic J ; Schachter EN ; Zuskin E
• Description:
  A study of respiratory function in glassblowers was conducted. The cohort consisted of 80 male glassblowers, mean age 34 years, employed in a glass making factory in Zagreb, Croatia. They had been employed as glassblowers an average of 15 years. The comparisons consisted of 80 male clerical workers, mean age 32 years. About 87% of the glassblowers and 75% of the comparisons were smokers. The subjects completed a respiratory symptom questionnaire. Pulmonary function testing was performed. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis, nasal catarrh, chronic sinusitis, and chronic nasal bleeding was significantly higher in the glassblowers than in the comparisons. The prevalence of these symptoms was not significantly influenced by the length of employment as a glassblower. A large number of glassblowers reported acute symptoms such as dry throat, dry nose, eye irritation, and epistaxis. Significant over shift increases in forced vital capacity (FVC) and maximal expiratory flow at 50 and 25% of FVC were seen in the glassblowers. Preshift FVC and 1 second forced expiratory volume values were significantly greater in the glassblowers than in the comparisons. Preshift residual volume (RV) and the RV/total lung capacity ratio were significantly higher and vital capacity was significantly lower in the glassblowers than in the comparisons. Carbon-monoxide transfer factors were similar in both groups. Pulmonary function was not significantly altered by the presence of chronic bronchitis. The authors conclude that work in the glassblowing industry contributes to the development of respiratory symptoms such as chronic bronchitis, nasal catarrh, sinusitis, and nasal bleeding. Glassblowers also show significant over shift changes in lung function. The physiological significance of these changes is not clear. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Glass Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Clinical-symptom Glass-workers NIOSH-Grant NIOSH-Publication Pulmonary-function-tests Pulmonary-system-disorders
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  23
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00214986
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 1993 Jun; 23(6):835-844
• Contact Point Address:
  Medicine Mount Sinai Medical Center One Gustave L Levy Place New York, N Y 10029
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1993
• NORA Priority Area:
  Pulmonary System Disorders
• Performing Organization:
  Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19880701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20020331
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:706a743134c7d6a897abc2197fbc03a3a287364266c28bb9ebbfb2ece44d23b18cd7315831d8a5817f882e21575aa3be320d7a083fe3628a58fba5a44e0a5ab4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/205512/cdc_205512_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 572.96 KB ]