Lung function changes in coke oven workers during 12 years of follow up.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of exposure to coke oven emissions on the lung function of coke oven workers.


METHODS
The study population, followed from 1978 and 1990, was 580 male workers with at least two sets of lung function measurements (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75%). An annual rate of change (time slope) for age and height adjusted lung function index was estimated for each subject. This "time slope" was then treated as the response variable in a weighted multiple regression analysis with selected predictors.


RESULTS
For all 580 subjects, each year of working in the "operation" group (the most exposed) was found to increase the FVC decline by around 0.7 ml/year (95% CI 0.1 to 1.3 ml/year). After the exclusion of 111 subjects without detailed work history, the above finding was confirmed and each year of exposure in "operation" was also found to increase the FEV1 decline by around 0.8 ml/year (95% CI 0.1 to 1.4 ml/year).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with the results of previous cross-sectional studies. Work duration in the most exposed position in the coke ovens was associated with increased annual decline for FVC and FEV1. The estimated effect of one year of work exposure in "operation" is equivalent, in terms of the reduction in lung function, to an estimated 2.1 pack-years of smoking for FVC and 1.2 pack-years of smoking for FEV1.
Wu
J
J
Graduate School of Public Health, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. irene_kreis@uow.edu.au
Griffiths
D
D
Kreis
I A
IA
Darling
C
C
D000328:Adult; D003077:Coke / Q000506:poisoning*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity
D003077:Coke