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Lung function in workers exposed to soft paper dust
Author(s) -
Järvholm Bengt,
Thorén Kjell,
Brolin Inger,
Ericsson Jens,
Morgan Ulf,
Tylen Ulf,
Bake Björn
Publication year - 1988
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.4700140409
Subject(s) - medicine , lung , elastic recoil , lung volumes , pulmonary function testing , respiratory system , respiratory tract , lung function , gastroenterology , pathology , physiology
In a cross‐sectional study, 13 nonsmoking men with heavy exposure to paper dust were compared with 14 unexposed men, mainly office workers, employed at the same paper mill. They were studied using questionnaries, physical examinations, pulmonary function studies, and chest radiographs. Among those exposed there was an increased lung elastic recoil pressure (P el ) compared with controls which was significant (p < 0.05) at the maximal level of total lung capacity (100% TLC). Furthermore, among the exposed workers there was also a significantly (p < 0.05) decreased residual volume (RV). Two of the exposed men underwent lung biopsies, one of which showed fibrotic alveolar walls. Among the exposed there was also a significant (p < 0.05) predominance of symptoms from the lower respiratory tract. We suggest that the observed pulmonary function impairment taken together with the histological examination of the lung biopsies are signs of a nonspecific reaction to high levels of paper dust.