Documents lung diseases 39 results

"Objectives This study investigated the associations between exposure to fluorides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and mortality from nonmalignant diseases among workers in the Norwegian primary aluminum industry.Methods Mortality among 10 857 men, employed for more than 3 years in 1 of 6 aluminum plants, was investigated from 1962 to 1996, giving 239 246 person-years during follow-up. A job-exposure matrix covering all 6 plants was used to estimate the individual exposure to total fluorides and particulate PAH. The observed cause-specific deaths were compared with expected figures calculated from national rates. Dose-response relations were investigated by internal comparisons using Poisson regression and by stratified analyses for standardized mortality ratio. Potential confounding by smoking was investigated in subanalyses restricted to 3 of the plants for which information on smoking habits was accessible. Results Mortality from circulatory disease was slightly lower than expected [SMR 0.95, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.9-1.0], while there was an increased mortality from asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis combined, SMR 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5). Mortality from these diseases was associated with cumulative exposure to fluorides. The rate ratio in the internal analysis rose steadily to 2.5 (95% CI 1.5-4.3) for the upper exposure category. No association was observed between cumulative fluoride exposure or PAH exposure and circulatory mortality. Conclusions The study showed an association between exposure to potroom emissions measured by fluorides and mortality from asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis combined."

Results of a study of 55 occupational asthma patients indicate that the disease is disabling and probably irreversible for most patients, despite prolonged removal from causative agents. Women, industrial workers and those with severe asthma or lack of a college degree appear to be at risk for worse outcomes. Topics: asthma; degree of disability; handicapped workers; high-risk groups; occupation disease relation; sex-linked differences; sickness absenteeism; state of health; statistical evaluation; unemployment.

"Objectives This study investigated the possibility of pleuropulmonary lesions, which can occur as rare but serious side effects of different ergot drugs, occurring more commonly in persons earlier exposed to asbestos.Methods All reports of pleuropulmonary side effects of the ergot drugs used in Sweden in the Swedish side effect registry from 1985 to 2003 were studied. In addition, the literature was reviewed.Results In the registry, 47 men and 3 women were found. Of the men, 24 were exposed to asbestos, and 2 denied such exposure; 2 of the 3 women were exposed. In the literature, 111 patients were found—32 had confirmed exposure and 15 denied it. For most of the patients, it was not possible to determine exposure.Conclusions Enough evidence exists to postulate that earlier asbestos exposure in combination with the intake of ergot drugs can cause pleuropulmonary lesions."(Authors' abstract)

"Background
The association between occupational titles and lung function has mostly been examined through cross-sectional studies. Preventive measures are expected to mitigate adverse effects; hence, updated estimates are necessary.
Aims
To study change in lung function measured by spirometry across occupations.
Methods
This population-based prospective cohort study comprised 5618 working adult participants of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3, 2005–07), Norway. Among these, 3800 individuals (43% men, mean age 42 years, range 20–55) also attended HUNT4 (2017–19). We analysed longitudinal decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) z-score during the 11-year follow-up by occupation (white-collar workers as reference category), in mixed models, adjusting for age, sex and smoking. We assessed the prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms and disease in the working population in HUNT4 (n = 32 124) and HUNT3 (n = 32 070).
Results
Compared with white-collar workers, agricultural workers and ‘drivers and mobile plant operators', had larger declines in FEV1z-score during follow-up. In sex-stratified analyses, men defined as agricultural workers and ‘drivers and mobile plant operators' had larger declines than white-collar workers. Among women, who were underrepresented in many blue-collar jobs, workers classified as ‘machine operators and assemblers' experienced greater declines. In the working population in HUNT4, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in connection with work was 8%, and lower among white-collar workers (6%) than blue-collar workers (14%).
Conclusions
Although certain workers in Norway remain at risk for occupational lung function decline, there were modest differences between occupations. The findings encourage continuous efforts to implement preventive measures in high-risk jobs."

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"This article examines British coal owners' use of medical and scientific knowledge of occupational lung diseases in the mining industry to resist regulatory changes between 1918 and 1946. It explores the strategies deployed by coal owners in response to scientific and lay debates over the hazard to workers' health presented by dust, and legislation to compensate miners for pneumoconiosis and silicosis contracted in the nation's collieries. In particular, it investigates coal owner deployment of the views of notable scientists, especially the eminent physiologist John Scott Haldane (1860–1936), who insisted on the harmlessness of coal dust, in order to avoid costly compensation payments, as well as capital investment in ameliorative measures to reduce miners' exposure to such hazards. In so doing, the article provides new insights by illustrating how coal owners influenced mining education programmes, deploying the arguments of Haldane and others, with direct implications for health and safety in British mines. This contributed to the mounting public health disaster wrought by coal dust on Britain's mining communities. This process is viewed as part of the broader political activities of the coal owners – and their industry body, the Mining Association of Great Britain – in its attempts to influence the regulatory process in a period of dramatic change in the political economy of coal."

"Background: This study examines the possible effect of exposure to aerosols and gases on lung function in a fertilizer plant in Norway.Methods: Dynamic lung volumes (FVC and FEV1) of 383 workers were measured in 2007 and 2010. During the follow-up period, most workers performed tasks with low exposure levels of acid aerosols and inorganic gases. The overall median inhalable and thoracic aerosol exposure levels were 1·1 and 0·21 mg/m3, respectively. A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was provided.Results: During the follow-up period, there was an adjusted decrease of FEV1 of 18 ml/year (P<0·001). The respiratory symptoms score was low during follow-up.Conclusions: Work in this fertilizer industry may lead to an excessive lung function decline. We have, however, not been able to find any plausible exposure related explanation for the overall lung function decline."

"Work disability due to respiratory disease, especially asthma, is common and costly among working age adults. The goal of this analysis was to characterize the risk factors for such disability. We analyzed data from the Swedish part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS), a random population-based sample of adults age 20 to 44, enriched with symptomatic subjects at increased likelihood of having asthma. We analyzed structured interview data available for 2,065 subjects and further analyzed methacholine challenge and skin prick test data for 1,562 of these. We defined respiratory work disability as reported job change or work loss due to breathing affected by a job. We used binary generalized linear modeling with a log link to estimate disability risk. Eighty-four subjects (4%) reported such work disability. This increased to 13% among those with asthma (45 of 350 subjects). Adjusting for covariates, occupations at high risk for asthma were associated with disability (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 3.0), as was self-reported regular exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at work (PR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 3.1) and self- reported job exposure to vapors, gases, dust, or fumes (VGDF) (PR 4.3; 95% CI 2.2 to 8.6). Workplace ETS exposure was also associated with methacholine challenge-positive asthma reported to be symptomatic at work among male subjects (PR 4.2; 95% CI 1.8 to 9.8), whereas high asthma-risk occupations were associated with this outcome among female subjects (PR 2.7; 95% CI 1.05 to 7.1). Respiratory work disability, defined as breathing-related job change due to work loss, was associated with workplace exposures themselves, even after taking into account other covariates. Better control of workplace exposures, including workplace ETS, may reduce work disability caused by respiratory conditions, especially adult asthma. "