Airway obstruction in boilermakers exposed to fuel oil ash. A prospective investigation.
We prospectively investigated the lower airway response in boilermakers overhauling an oil-powered boiler. We studied 26 male boilermakers with a mean age (SD) of 43.3 (8.6) yr. Pre-exposure spirometry and methacholine challenge tests were performed before beginning the boiler overhaul; postexposure tests were performed after approximately 4 wk of work on the boiler. Exposure to particulates with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microns and smaller (PM10) and respirable vanadium dust were estimated using daily work diaries and a personal sampling device for respirable particles. Using these estimates, we calculated average and peak exposure between pre- and postexposure tests for each subject. The average PM10 concentration ranged from 1.44 to 6.69 mg/m3, with a mean (SD) of 3.22 (1.42) mg/m3; the average vanadium concentration ranged from 2.2 to 31.3, with a mean (SD) of 12.2 (9.1) micrograms/m3. The mean postexposure fall in FEV1 was 140 +/- 160 ml (p < 0.01); 24 of 26 subjects had a drop in FEV1. For each subject, the adjusted change in FEV1 (delta FEV1.adj) was calculated by dividing the change in FEV1 by the average of the pre- and postexposure FEV1 values. The delta FEV1.adj was regressed, controlling age and current smoking status, on average and peak exposure to both PM10 and vanadium. There was a dose-response relationship between average and peak PM10 exposure and delta FEV1.adj: beta = -0.91% per mg/m3, p = 0.08 and beta = -1.03% per mg/m3, p = 0.03, respectively. However, there was no relationship between delta FEV1.adj and respirable vanadium dust concentration. Furthermore, there was no postexposure change in nonspecific airway responsiveness. In summary, we found a significant fall in FEV1 and a dose-response relationship between delta FEV1.adj and average and peak PM10 exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hauser
R
R
Department of Environmental Health (Occupational Health Program and Environmental Science and Engineering Program), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Elreedy
S
S
Hoppin
J A
JA
Christiani
D C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004738:Engineering / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017968:Vanadium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005648:Fuel Oils; D017968:Vanadium Compounds; D016210:Methacholine Chloride