title: Reduction in respiratory symptoms among cement workers: a follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have reported associations between cement dust exposure and adverse respiratory health effects, but there are few follow-up studies and no studies of respiratory health effects following dust control measures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in respiratory health among cement workers and unexposed controls after 1 year in a factory implementing a health and safety campaign with the main aim to increase use of personal protective equipment. Earlier the factory had made technical improvements which had reduced dust levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respiratory questionnaire interviews and personal total dust exposure assessments were conducted in 2010 and 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 171 cement workers and 98 controls participated in the study in 2010. The prevalence of cough, cough with sputum, dyspnoea and wheeze among the 134 exposed workers assessed at follow-up in 2011 was significantly lower than in 2010, but not among 63 controls followed up in 2011. Total dust exposure levels among exposed workers did not differ between 2010 and 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among cement workers was reduced after 1 year of follow-up following an intervention campaign to improve use of personal protective equipment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, alextungu@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tungu
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bråtveit
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mamuya
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Moen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D004391:Dust; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004391:Dust
keywords: Dust exposure; cement; respiratory symptoms.