Documents lung 5 results

A study was conducted examining the effects of dust and fumes on lung function and respiratory symptoms in rubber workers. Lung function was studied in 70 curing workers at the start and end of a day shift at the beginning and end of the week and in 69 unexposed referents. A small decline in lung function associated with 10 years of exposure to an average dust level of 2.0mg/m3 was identified. No significant differences between workers and referents was seen in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. The ratio of forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly lower in rubbers workers than in referents. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that cumulative dust exposure was negatively associated with the FEV1/FVC ratio, maximal midexpiratory flow, and the flow rate at 50% of the FVC after controlling for cumulative exposure, height, age, and smoking. Exposure to rubber fumes at levels of approximately 1mg/m3 inhalable dust and 260 micrograms/cubic meter cyclohexane (110827) soluble fraction was not related to cross shift or cross week decreases in pulmonary function. The expected excess loss of lung function for a 37 year old rubber worker exposed to a mean dust level of 32.6mg/m3/year was calculated to be 1.3% for the FEV1/FVC ratio and 163 milliliters/second for the maximal midexpiratory flow. The authors conclude that these results do not support the presence of acute obstructive effects in rubber curing workers.

"Chest X-ray versus High Resolution Computed Tomography were compared in 93 workers exposed to dust. HRCT findings versus CXR were different in 34/93 cases.
HRCT proved light fibrosis (s1/2–s2/1) versus normal CXR in 8/93 cases.
HRCT was normal versus fibrosis (s1/2–s2/1) suggested by CXR in 4/93 cases.
HRCT was normal versus CXR doubtful about fibrosis (s0/1–s1/0) in 11/93 cases.
HRCT was positive about pleural plaques 31/53 asbestos exposed workers with lung fibrosis while CXR was positive only in 20/53 asbestos exposed workers, i.e. HRCT was superior versus CXR in 11 cases of pleural plaques.
Authors suggest indications of HRCT:
– after a long exposure to dust at negative CXR with decreased lung function tests
– if there is a suspicion in a dust exposed patient of other than dust inhalation aetiology fibrosis, too
– if malignancy is suspected, HRCT and helical contrast CT can help in diagnosing and staging the lung tumours and pleural diseases as well.
Usual morphology of lung fibrosis induced of whatever reason can change into unusual morphology after dust exposure. The role of the HRCT in the complex pneumoconiosis diagnosis offers a possibility for radiologists to use “smaller holes” for mass screening and categorising as positive CXR at the screening and/or to explain morphology if lung function tests found restrictive disorders, but CXR seems to be negative. "

A survey of respiratory health in Croatian synthetic fiber textile workers was conducted. The cohort consisted of 400 workers, 308 females, 18 to 61 years old, employed in a synthetic textiles factory at Zagreb, Croatia. The workers had been employed at the facility a mean of 16 years. Forty one percent of the female workers and 45% of males were current smokers. Controls consisted of 806 workers in other industries not exposed to dusts, fumes, or chemicals who were matched to the cohort by age, duration of employment, and smoking habits. Subjects completed a respiratory symptom questionnaire. Spirometric testing was performed. Industrial hygiene monitoring for total and respirable dust at the textile factory was performed. Textile workers reported a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms than controls. The differences were statistically significant for dyspnea, sinusitis, and nasal catarrh in female workers and nasal catarrh in the male workers. Significant higher prevalences of chronic cough, bronchitis, and phlegm production were reported by smoking than by nonsmoking textile workers. Three female textile workers and one male worker had occupational asthma. None of the controls had asthma. The textile workers reported high prevalences of acute symptoms such as cough, nose and throat dryness, and eye irritation. A high prevalence of workshift related headache was reported by female textile workers. The prevalence of acute symptoms did not depend on smoking status. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and maximum expiratory flow rate at the last 25% of FVC (FEF75) were decreased in the textile workers compared to the controls. The decreases were statistically significant only for FEF75 in female smokers and nonsmokers and FEF75 in male nonsmokers. The mean total and respirable dust concentrations in the textile factory were 12 and 4mg/m3, which exceeded the Croatian standards of 1 and 0.4mg/m3, respectively. The authors conclude that work in synthetic textile factories may cause respiratory impairment.