Changes in pulmonary function in workers exposed to vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride.

To determine whether occupational exposure to vinyl chloride gas and polyvinyl chloride dust is associated with changes in pulmonary function, spirometry and maximum expiratory flow-volume curves were obtained in 348 workers in a VC polymerization plant. The major finding was diminution in air flow in 200 workers (57.5 percent). This abnormality correlated with age and duration of exposure. A relationship with smoking was noted only in younger workers with exposures of less than 10 years. When age exceeded 40 years or exposure 20 years, prevalence of this impairment was similar in smokers and nonsmokers, suggesting that occupational or other environmental factors were operative.