Details:

Alternative Title:
Am J Ind Med
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22253
Personal Author:
Meza, Francisco ; Chen, Lilia ; Hudson, Naomi ;
Meza, Francisco ; Chen, Lilia ; Hudson, Naomi ; Less -
Description:
Background Each year, 1.2 million metalworkers are exposed to metalworking fluids (MWFs), which can cause dermal and respiratory disease. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a health hazard evaluation of MWF exposures at an aircraft engine manufacturing facility. The objectives were to determine employee exposures to endotoxin and MWFs in the air, characterize symptoms experienced by employees working with MWFs, compare them to symptoms of employees unexposed to MWFs, and make recommendations for reducing exposures based on results. Methods 407 workers were categorized as MWF exposed or MWF unexposed and completed questionnaires. Estimated prevalence ratios (PR) of dermatitis, asthma, and work-related asthma (WRA) symptoms were calculated. Airborne concentrations of MWF and endotoxin were measured, and work practices observed. Results MWF exposed workers had a significantly higher prevalence of dermatitis on wrists/forearms (PR 2.59; 95% CI 1.22, 5.46), asthma symptoms (PR 1.49; 95% CI 1.05, 2.13) and WRA symptoms (PR 2.10; 95% CI 1.22, 3.30) than unexposed workers. Airborne concentrations of MWF were below the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for MWF aerosols (thoracic particulate mass). Conclusions Despite MWF exposures below the NIOSH REL, exposed workers had a higher prevalence of asthma, WRA, and dermatitis symptoms than unexposed workers. Recommendations to reduce exposure included configuring mist collectors to automatically turn on when the machine is in use, and enforcing enclosure use.
Subject:
[+]
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aircraft
Aircraft Engine Manufacturing
Air Pollutants, Occupational
Article
Asthma
Asthma, Occupational
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, Occupational
Endotoxin
Female
Fungi
Humans
Inhalation Exposure
Male
Metallurgy
Metalworking Fluid
Microbial Contamination
Middle Aged
MWF
Mycobacteria
Thoracic Particulates
Threshold Limit Values
Young Adult

Source:
Am J Ind Med. 56(12):1394-1401. ;
Pubmed ID:
24122918
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4530450
Document Type:
Journal Article ;
Funding:
IUZ8/Intramural CDC HHS/United States ;
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:73219f025f87bf2fe103be0bc5f7ad41ced29155c450149169e118774e0625a1
File Type:

Supporting Files

• nihms-519656.nxml

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