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Flock workers' exposures and respiratory symptoms in five plants
Author(s) -
Daroowalla Feroza,
Wang MeiLin,
Piacitelli Chris,
Attfield Michael D.,
Kreiss Kathleen
Publication year - 2005
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/ajim.20120
Subject(s) - medicine , environmental health , respirator , respiratory system , job exposure matrix , bronchiolitis , occupational exposure , materials science , composite material
Background Sentinel cases of lymphocytic bronchiolitis in flock production and coating operations triggered a five‐plant study of airborne respirable dust and fiber exposures and health symptoms. Methods Job histories from 219 current workers were linked to a job‐exposure matrix derived from personal exposure measurements of respirable dust and fibers. Univariate group comparisons and multivariate modeling tested for relations between indices of cumulative and current exposure, and respiratory and systemic symptom outcomes. Results Respiratory symptoms and repeated flu‐like illnesses were associated with use of compressed air to clear equipment (blow‐downs) and with respirable dust exposure (current and cumulative) after controlling for smoking. Blow‐downs had an equal or greater effect than smoking status on most symptoms. Conclusions Eliminating compressed air cleaning, engineering control of dust exposure, and respirators are needed to limit exposures to particulates. Longitudinal follow up may provide guidance for a dust or fiber level without adverse respiratory health effects. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:144–152, 2005. Published 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.