OBJECTIVES: To determine whether exposure to five different occupational substances contributes to respiratory symptoms in aluminium smelter workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 1,615 male employees of two Australian aluminium smelters was conducted in 1995. Subjects underwent spirometry and were asked about respiratory symptoms and the relationship of those symptoms to work. Their job histories were combined with a task exposure matrix to produce individual quantitative measures of cumulative exposure to fluoride, sulphur dioxide, inspirable dust, the benzene-soluble fraction of coal tar pitch volatiles (BSF), and oil mist. RESULTS: After adjusting for smoking and age, we found that subjects with the highest cumulative exposure to fluoride (>0.16 mg/m(3) years) and inspirable dust (>2.9 mg/m(3) years) were two to four times more likely to report work-related wheeze and chest tightness than were unexposed subjects. Lower prevalence ratios for the same symptoms were seen with sulphur dioxide and BSF. Levels of lung function decreased slightly with exposure to oil mist, but not with cumulative exposure to other substances. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the relevant causative agents for respiratory symptoms in aluminium smelters are fluoride and inspirable dust.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether exposure to five different occupational substances contributes to respiratory symptoms in aluminium smelter workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 1,615 male employees of two Australian aluminium smelters was conducted in 1995. Subjects underwent spirometry and were asked about respiratory symptoms and the relationship of those symptoms to work. Their job histories were combined with a task exposure matrix to produce individual quantitative measures of cumulative exposure to fluoride, sulphur dioxide, inspirable dust, the benzene-soluble fraction of coal tar pitch volatiles (BSF), and oil mist. RESULTS: After adjusting for smoking and age, we found that subjects with the highest cumulative exposure to fluoride (>0.16 mg/m(3) years) and inspirable dust (>2.9 mg/m(3) years) were two to four times more likely to report work-related wheeze and chest tightness than were unexposed subjects. Lower prevalence ratios for the same symptoms were seen with sulphur dioxide and BSF. Levels of lung function decreased slightly with exposure to oil mist, but not with cumulative exposure to other substances. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the relevant causative agents for respiratory symptoms in aluminium smelters are fluoride and inspirable dust.
Authors: Elizabeth M Noth; Christine Dixon-Ernst; Sa Liu; Linda Cantley; Baylah Tessier-Sherman; Ellen A Eisen; Mark R Cullen; S Katharine Hammond Journal: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol Date: 2013-09-11 Impact factor: 5.563
Authors: Daniel Krewski; Robert A Yokel; Evert Nieboer; David Borchelt; Joshua Cohen; Jean Harry; Sam Kacew; Joan Lindsay; Amal M Mahfouz; Virginie Rondeau Journal: J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev Date: 2007 Impact factor: 6.393
Authors: Vidar Søyseth; Paul K Henneberger; Gunnar Einvik; Mohammed Abbas Virji; Berit Bakke; Johny Kongerud Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2016-02-08 Impact factor: 2.214