title: Lung function in fragrance industry employees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Production employees in the UK fragrance industry are exposed to large numbers of chemical substances and mixtures. There is a lack of published literature describing the effects of occupational respiratory exposure in this industry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether occupational respiratory exposure to chemicals in the UK fragrance industry is linked to a statistically significant change in lung function as measured using spirometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-site cross-sectional study in which five UK companies took part, comprising an exposed group (fragrance production and associated functions) and a control group (non-exposed industry employees, e.g. office staff). Spirometric measurements (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow) were taken pre- and post-shift. Participants provided information on potential confounding factors (smoking, history of respiratory problems and body mass index). Post-shift measurements were compared between groups, using analysis of covariance to adjust for the baseline pre-shift measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 112 subjects participated: 60 in the exposed group and 52 in control group (response rate 33 and 24%, respectively). Adjusted mean differences in post-shift spirometric measurements between exposed and control groups were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant effects were observed on the spirometric performance of the study population. This work is the first step in a novel area of research, and the industry would benefit from further such research.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK. garry.dix@cplaromas.com
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dix
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010476:Perfume; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D010476:Perfume
keywords: Cross-sectional study; fragrance manufacture; lung function measurement; occupational; spirometry.