title: Lung function in asphalt pavers: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study longitudinal changes in lung function in asphalt pavers and a reference group of road maintenance workers, and to detect possible signs of lung disease by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five asphalt pavers and 71 road maintenance workers were followed up with questionnaires and measurements of lung function. Not every worker was tested every year, but most of them had four or more measurement points. The 75 asphalt pavers were also invited to have HRCT scans of the lungs at the end of the follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean annual decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of the asphalt pavers was 58 and 35 ml, respectively. Adjusted for age at baseline, packyears of smoking and BMI, the asphalt pavers had a significant excess annual decline in FVC and FEV1compared to the references. The screedmen, the most exposed group of the asphalt pavers, showed a significantly larger decline in FVC than the other asphalt pavers (P = 0.029). Fine intralobular fibrosis without evident cysts was identified with HRCT in three subjects (4 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that our findings may indicate an excess annual decline in FVC and FEV1related to exposure to asphalt fumes. The screedmen, who carry out their work behind and close to the paving machine, had the largest decline in lung function. The finding of adverse pulmonary effects in asphalt pavers calls for better technological solutions to prevent exposure.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway. bente.ulvestad@stami.no.
authors.forename: Bente
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7674-3001
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulvestad
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Britt Grethe
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Randem
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Øivind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Skare
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Trond Mogens
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Aaløkken
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Georg Karl
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Myranek
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elihn
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: May Brit
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; C006647:asphalt
keywords: Asphalt fumes; HRCT; Oil mist; Spirometry