title: Longitudinal analysis of respiratory outcomes among bauxite exposed workers in Western Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational exposure to bauxite is common in the aluminium industry but little is known about the associated health effects. This study investigates respiratory health in relation to respirable bauxite dust exposure longitudinally over a 13 year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  An inception cohort study recruited 91 male bauxite miners and 363 male alumina refinery workers. Annual measurements of respiratory symptoms and lung function were made. Cumulative exposure to bauxite was derived from job histories and air monitoring data. Mixed-effects modeling was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No associations were found between cumulative bauxite exposure and respiratory symptoms or lung function. However, when analysis was restricted to the first three rounds, FEV1 was significantly lower in all exposure groups than in those unexposed but with no significant trend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing exposure to bauxite dust in the aluminum industry was not associated with respiratory symptoms or consistent decrements in lung function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dennekamp
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth and Institute for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas Hubert
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.affiliation: Hospital and Health Service Performance Division, Department of Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jisheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Monaco
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fritschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Geza Paul
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Benke
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Malcolm Ross
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.|Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Arthur William
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Musk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000535:Aluminum; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008906:Mining; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D000535:Aluminum; D000537:Aluminum Oxide
keywords: aluminium industry; bauxite; lung function; occupational exposure; respiratory symptoms