title: Dust exposure is associated with increased lung function loss among workers in the Norwegian silicon carbide industry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between dust exposure and annual change in lung function among employees in Norwegian silicon carbide (SiC) plants using a quantitative job exposure matrix (JEM) regarding total dust.
  
  
  METHODS
  All employees, 20-55 years of age by inclusion (n=456), were examined annually for up to 5 years (1499 examinations). Spirometry was performed at each examination, and a questionnaire encompassing questions of respiratory symptoms, smoking status, job and smoking history, and present job held was completed. A JEM was constructed based on 1970 personal total dust exposure measurements collected during the study period. The association between lung function and total dust exposure was investigated using linear mixed models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual change in forced expiratory volume (FEV) in one second per squared height, FEV1/height(2), per mg/m(3) increase in dust exposure was -2.3 (95% CI -3.8 to -0.79) (mL/m(2))×year(-1). In an employee of average height (1.79 m) and exposure (1.4 mg/m(3)) the estimated contribution to the annual change in FEV1 associated with dust was 10.4 mL/year. The annual change in FEV1/height(2) in current, compared with non-smokers was -1.9 (-7.2 to 3.4) (mL/m(2))×year(-1). The estimated overall annual decline in FEV1 among current and non-smokers in the highest exposed group was -91.2 (-124.3 to -58.1) (mL/m(2))×year(-1) and -49.0 (-80.2 to -17.8) (mL/m(2))×year(-1), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dust exposure, expressed by a quantitative JEM, was found to be associated with an increased yearly decline in FEV1 in employees of Norwegian SiC plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Helle Laier
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: Merete Drevvatne
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bugge
authors.forename: Solveig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Føreland
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kjuus
authors.forename: Johny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kongerud
authors.forename: Vidar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Søyseth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D012825:Silicon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter; D017655:Silicon Compounds; C022088:silicon carbide; D012825:Silicon