Respiratory tract illness in meat wrappers.
A questionnaire survey was done in 152 Houston supermarkets to assess the prevalence of respiratory tract symptoms in meat wrappers exposed to the thermal decomposition fumes of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film wrap and in two supermarket control groups (checkers and meat cutters). Meat wrappers had increased respiratory tract symptoms; 12% of meat wrappers who smoked (vs 6% and 2% of controls) and 5% of meat wrappers who did not smoke (vs 0% and 0% of controls) had multiple respiratory tract symptoms. It is probable that a large number of meat wrappers have mild symptoms with some progressing to more severe respiratory impairment or clinical asthma.
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012907:Smoking / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas
D011145:Polyvinyls; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride