title: Respiratory effects among rubberwood furniture factory workers in Thailand.
abstract: Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function were examined among 89 rubberwood furniture factory workers. Acute and chronic irritant symptoms were assessed, lung function was measured both pre- and post-shift and personal inhalable dust exposure determined. The only symptoms with a significant increase among high dust level-exposed workers (>1 mg/m(3)) were those related to nasal irritation. High dust level-exposed workers had a significant cross-shift decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC) compared with low dust level-exposed workers and increases in inhalable dust concentration levels (mg/m(3)) were significantly associated with decreases in the peak expiratory flow (PEF) across the work shift. For percent predicted pulmonary function levels, a significant decrement in PEF was found for high versus low rubberwood dust level-exposed workers, after controlling for confounders. These findings suggest the need for an occupational standard for rubberwood dust in Thailand.
authors: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors: Salakjit
authors: S
authors: Sriproed
authors: Pramuk
authors: P
authors: Osiri
authors: Dusit
authors: D
authors: Sujirarat
authors: Suttinun
authors: S
authors: Chantanakul
authors: Kitiphong
authors: K
authors: Harncharoen
authors: Parichat
authors: P
authors: Ong-artborirak
authors: Susan R
authors: SR
authors: Woskie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D028482:Hevea / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014797:Vital Capacity; D014934:Wood / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004391:Dust