Obstructive pulmonary function defects among Taiwanese firebrick workers in a 2-year follow-up study.
The purpose of the study was to follow up an earlier observation of pulmonary function among workers employed in firebrick-manufacturing factories. A 2-year follow-up study of pulmonary function among 442 workers in 30 firebrick-manufacturing factories was designed. Excluding 79 workers with a history of other occupational dust exposure, changes in pulmonary function of 291 firebrick workers were compared with pulmonary function in 72 control subjects over a period of 2 years. Baseline pulmonary function values (i.e., forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]/forced vital capacity [FVC] and forced expiratory flow after 50% of vital capacity has been expelled [FEF50%] in smoking firebrick workers, and FEV1/FVC and FEF75% in nonsmoking firebrick workers) were significantly lower than those in the comparison group. The statistical method for repeated measurements was used for comparison of the difference between follow-up and baseline lung function. There was no significant difference in FVC and FEV1 changes between firebrick workers and those in the comparison group during the 2-year follow-up period. The decreases in FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate, maximal midexpiratory flow, and FEF50% in the firebrick workers were significantly greater than in the comparison group, after adjustment for smoking status. The FEV1, maximal midexpiratory flow, FEF50%, and FEF75% also showed a dose-response relationship with job titles. The decrement of pulmonary function in the 2-year follow-up period was the worst in burning work, followed by crushing and molding. The results show that workers in firebrick-manufacturing factories with exposure to silica-containing dusts may contract obstructive pulmonary function defects.
Chen
Y H
YH
Department of Family Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Nei-Hu, Taipei, Taiwan, 114, Republic of China.
Wu
T N
TN
Liou
S H
SH
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D004391:Dust; D012822:Silicon Dioxide