Prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms in workers exposed to isocyanates.
Until now, no survey had been conducted to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in a large population that had been occupationally exposed to isocyanates, compared with that in a control group. We performed such a survey, using questionnaires administered by occupational physicians. Overall, 1114 workers' questionnaires (585 exposed and 529 control) were analyzed. Exposed workers, primarily painters from small factories, reported significantly (P < 0.05) more wheezing (8.6% vs 3.6%), more breathlessness with wheezing (3.4% vs 0.6%) in the last year, and more rhinitis (33.1% vs 19.1%) than did control workers. A trend for more asthma (2.1% vs 0.8%; P < or = 0.07) was also observed. Furthermore, 16.4%, 16.2%, and 10.6% of exposed workers reported (respectively) cough, rhinitis, and chest tightness when working in contact with isocyanates. We conclude that isocyanate-exposed workers demonstrate significantly higher prevalence rates of rhinitic and asthmatic symptoms than do control subjects.
Sari-Minodier
I
I
Service de Médecine du Travail et des Risques Professionnels, Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.
Charpin
D
D
Signouret
M
M
Poyen
D
D
Vervloet
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D017953:Isocyanates