title: Respiratory health effects related to occupational spray painting and welding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to study respiratory symptoms among automobile assembly workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, we compared rates of respiratory symptoms and of physician-diagnosed asthma and COPD in painters and welders to those in assembly workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respiratory symptom reporting was significantly increased among welders (odds ratio [OR] = 1.79-2.61) compared with painters or assembly workers, after age, race, and smoking adjustment in multiple logistic regression analyses. Welders also reported significantly more improvement in symptoms on weekends or vacation. However, no significant elevations in adjusted ORs were observed for physician-diagnosed asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for welders. In contrast, significantly more painters had physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 3.73, 95% confidence interval = 1.27, 11.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Welders and painters in this plant appeared to have increased risk of respiratory health effects compared with assembly workers.
authors: Northern California Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Berkeley, 94720-7360, USA. hammondk@berkeley.edu
authors: S Katharine
authors: SK
authors: Hammond
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Gold
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Baker
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Quinlan
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Smith
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Pandya
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Balmes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010150:Paint; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014896:Welding