Airway reactivity in welders: a controlled prospective cohort study.
In a 3-year survey, respiratory symptoms, spirometry, and methacholine reactivity were measured annually in welders (n = 51) and non-welder controls subjects (n = 54) to determine whether welding-related symptoms are associated with accelerated decline in lung function or changes in airway reactivity. In the cross-workshift study, maximal midexpiratory flow rate declined reversibly during a welding day, whereas 1-second forced expiratory volume and forced-vital capacity were unchanged. In the longitudinal study, the welders had significantly more reversible work-related symptoms of cough, phlegm, wheeze, and chest tightness than the non-welder shipyard control subjects. In this group of actively working welders, across-workshift changes in midflow and reversible symptoms were related to the welding occupation, but evidence for chronic irreversible effects on spirometry or airway reactivity was not seen over the 3 years of observation. The short period of observation was not optimal for detecting a chronic effect on lung function. Work practices and engineering controls may be successfully preventing irreversible respiratory effects, but not mild reversible effects, in this group of welders.
Beckett
W S
WS
Occupational Medicine Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA.
Pace
P E
PE
Sferlazza
S J
SJ
Perlman
G D
GD
Chen
A H
AH
Xu
X P
XP
D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013147:Spirometry; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014896:Welding
D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D010126:Ozone