title: Risks of a lifetime in construction. Part II: Chronic occupational diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We developed working-life estimates of risk for dust-related occupational lung disease, COPD, and hearing loss based on the experience of the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program in order to (1) demonstrate the value of estimates of lifetime risk, and (2) make lifetime risk estimates for common conditions among construction workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estimates of lifetime risk were performed based on 12,742 radiographic evaluations, 12,679 spirometry tests, and 11,793 audiograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a 45-year working life, 16% of construction workers developed COPD, 11% developed parenchymal radiological abnormality, and 73.8% developed hearing loss. The risk for occupationally related disease over a lifetime in a construction trade was 2-6 times greater than the risk in non-construction workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When compared with estimates from annualized cross-sectional data, lifetime risk estimates are highly useful for risk expression, and should help to inform stakeholders in the construction industry as well as policy-makers about magnitudes of risk.
authors.affiliation: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland; Stoneturn Consultants.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ringen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dement
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: Xiuwen Sue
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Eula
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Patricia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D060389:Construction Industry; D004391:Dust; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust
keywords: COPD; audiometry; construction industry; diseases; hearing loss; lifetime risk; lung disease; occupation; radiographic; spirometry; surveillance