Bente Ulvestad1, Britt Grethe Randem2, Øivind Skare3, Trond Mogens Aaløkken4, Georg Karl Myranek4, Karine Elihn5, May Brit Lund6,7. 1. National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway. bente.ulvestad@stami.no. 2. Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 3. National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway. 4. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 5. Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 7. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
PURPOSE: 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 FEV1 compared 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 %). CONCLUSION: We conclude that our findings may indicate an excess annual decline in FVC and FEV1 related 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.
PURPOSE: 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 FEV1 compared 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 %). CONCLUSION: We conclude that our findings may indicate an excess annual decline in FVC and FEV1 related 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: E A Eisen; T J Smith; D Kriebel; S R Woskie; D J Myers; S M Kennedy; S Shalat; R R Monson Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2001-05 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: I A Greaves; E A Eisen; T J Smith; L J Pothier; D Kriebel; S R Woskie; S M Kennedy; S Shalat; R R Monson Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 1997-11 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: A Senthilselvan; J A Dosman; K M Semchuk; H H McDuffie; A J Cessna; D G Irvine; M F Crossley; A Rosenberg Journal: Can Respir J Date: 2000 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.409