A respiratory epidemiological survey of workers in a small South African foundry.
A cross-sectional study to assess prevalence of respiratory abnormality was conducted among 107 South African foundry workers. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 10.3% overall, increasing to 38% for workers with more than 15 years of service. Dyspnea was present in 38% of workers, chronic simple bronchitis in 15.9%, and asthmatic symptoms in 27%. Pneumoconiosis was not associated with higher prevalence rates of other respiratory abnormalities. The high overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms might be explained by exposure to environmental pollutants other than dust.
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013019:South Africa