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Pulmonary effects of inhaled dust and fumes: Exposure‐response study in rubber workers
Author(s) -
Meijer E.,
Heederik D.,
Kromhout H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199801)33:1<16::aid-ajim3>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational exposure , inhalation , natural rubber , inhalation exposure , environmental health , toxicology , anesthesia , composite material , materials science , biology
Lung function changes and respiratory symptoms were investigated in a cross‐sectional study in rubber workers exposed to dust and fumes. To exclude acute pulmonary effects related to “rubber fumes,” lung function was measured in curing workers at the start and end of the day shift. Exposure to inhalable dust was measured in all production areas. The results were compared with a reference population from the same geographical region. This study indicates that exposure to “rubber fumes” in curing workers was not related to cross‐shift and cross‐week decreases in pulmonary function at levels ∼1 mg/m 3 (AM) inhalable dust and 260 μg/m 3 cyclohexane soluble fraction (CSF). Cross‐sectional analyses gave indications for a small loss in pulmonary function in all rubber workers. This decrease in lung function was associated with 10 years of exposure to an average of 2.0 mg/m 3 inhalable dust. Our study showed a mean annual decline of 0.08% for the FEV 1 /FVC ratio and of 10 ml/s for the MMEF. Self‐reported chronic respiratory symptoms were not related to dust exposure. Am. J. Med. 33:16–23, 1998 © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.