title: Self-reported short- and long-term respiratory effects among PVC-exposed firefighters.
abstract: Firefighters exposed to burning polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were studied to assess respiratory effects at 5-6 wk post-incident and again 22 mo following the fire. Exposed subjects reported significantly more frequent and severe respiratory symptoms at both time points than did firefighter controls. In longitudinal analyses, a number of symptoms persisted over time, and acute symptom scores were significantly correlated with chronic scores. At Time 2, approximately 18% of exposed firefighters, compared with none of the controls, reported that since the time of the PVC exposure, a physician had told them that they had either asthma and/or bronchitis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Genetics Epidemiology Unit New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Markowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride