title: Respiratory morbidity in a coffee processing workplace with sentinel obliterative bronchiolitis cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obliterative bronchiolitis in former coffee workers prompted a cross-sectional study of current workers. Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione levels were highest in areas for flavoring and grinding/packaging unflavored coffee.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed 75 (88%) workers, measured lung function, and created exposure groups based on work history. We calculated standardized morbidity ratios (SMRs) for symptoms and spirometric abnormalities. We examined health outcomes by exposure groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SMRs were elevated 1.6-fold for dyspnea and 2.7-fold for obstruction. The exposure group working in both coffee flavoring and grinding/packaging of unflavored coffee areas had significantly lower mean ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity and percent predicted mid-expiratory flow than workers without such exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current workers have occupational lung morbidity associated with high diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione exposures, which were not limited to flavoring areas.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Respiratory Health Division, Field Studies Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Respiratory Health Division, Field Studies Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cox-Ganser
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Respiratory Health Division, Field Studies Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Duling
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Respiratory Health Division, Field Studies Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Ryan F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: LeBouf
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Respiratory Health Division, Field Studies Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: CDC, NIOSH, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Toni A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bledsoe
authors.affiliation: CDC, NIOSH, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Brett J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Respiratory Health Division, Field Studies Branch, Morgantown, WV.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kreiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003069:Coffee / Q000737:chemistry*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003931:Diacetyl / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000032:analysis; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010422:Pentanones / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D012119:Respiration; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D010422:Pentanones; D003931:Diacetyl; C013186:2,3-pentanedione
keywords: 2,3-pentanedione; asthma; coffee; diacetyl; flavorings; obliterative bronchiolitis