title: A cross-sectional survey of respiratory and general health outcomes among semiconductor industry workers.
abstract: As part of the Semiconductor Health Study, we performed a cross-sectional survey to assess prevalence of specific nonreproductive health outcomes and their association with occupational exposures. A total of 3,175 persons from eight manufacturing sites across the U.S. completed a health and work questionnaire (78% participation rate). After adjusting for confounders, responses from fabrication room (fab) workers indicated a greater risk than those of nonfab workers for upper respiratory symptoms (relative risk [RR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.13); a dose-response effect with hours per day spent in fabs was observed. Fab workers also had greater prevalence for persistent wheezing (RR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.15-2.87), dermatitis within the past year (RR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04-1.35), and alopecia (RR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.16-2.54). Female sex, a somatization index score, and smoking were important nonoccupational covariates. Increased respiratory symptoms may result from occupational exposures in fabs; further research is needed to identify causal agents and develop prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616-8638, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCurdy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pocekay
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Woskie
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schenker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012666:Semiconductors