Pulmonary Impairment and Risk Assessment in a Diacetyl-Exposed Population: Microwave Popcorn Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gilbert, Stephen J. ; Park RM
• Description:
  Objectives: The butter flavoring additive, diacetyl (DA), can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) by inhalation. A risk assessment was performed using data from a microwave popcorn manufacturing plant. Methods: Current employees' medical history and pulmonary function tests together with air sampling over a 2.7-year period were used to analyze forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC). The exposure responses for declining pulmonary function and for possible early onset of BO were estimated using multiple regression methods. Several exposure metrics were investigated; benchmark dose and excess lifetime risk of impairment were calculated. Results: Forty-six percent of the population had less than 6 months exposure to DA. Percent-of- predicted FEV1 declined with cumulative exposure (0.40 per ppm-yr, P<10-7) as did percent FEV1/FVC (0.13 per ppm-yr, P=0.0004). Lifetime respiratory impairment prevalence of one per thousand resulted from 0.005 ppm DA and one per thousand lifetime incidence of impairment was predicted for 0.002 ppm DA. Conclusion: DA exposures, often exceeding 1 ppm in the past, place workers at high risk of pulmonary impairment. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Diacetyl Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Flavoring Agents Longevity Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Air Samples Air Sampling Author Keywords: Benchmark Dose Bronchiolitis Bronchiolitis Obliterans Exposure Levels Flavorings Food Additives Inhalation Lifespan Lifetime Risk Lung Disorders Pulmonary Function Pulmonary Function Tests Pulmonary System Disorders Regression Analysis Respiratory System Disorders Risk Assessment Risk Factors Statistical Analysis Susceptibility Vital Capacity Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  EID - Education and Information Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  496-506
• Volume:
  60
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051110
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2018 Jun; 60(6):496-506
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert M. Park, MS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Education and Information Division, MS C-15, 1090 Tusculum Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
• Email:
  rhp9@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Butanedione (CAS RN 431-03-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3cad4139167c61d7ee09a23b3e688197c489fa5f62f7011b593ad8246b929a82e12e4f770186a1636f56116f6353e63f3df96986074f16a40fd402ef8980a7a8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211232/cdc_211232_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 451.08 KB ]