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DECREASE IN VITAL CAPACITY IN PCB‐EXPOSED WORKERS IN A CAPACITOR MANUFACTURING FACILITY *
Author(s) -
Warshaw Raphael,
Fischbein Alf,
Thornton John,
Miller Albert,
Selikoff Irving J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1979.tb56610.x
Subject(s) - vital capacity , lung function , radiography , medicine , pulmonary function testing , occupational exposure , lung , toxicology , surgery , environmental health , diffusing capacity , biology
Pulmonary function was evaluated in 243 workers exposed to PCB in the manufacture of capacitors. Mean employment was greater than 15 years. Thirty-four of the workers (14%) were found to have a reduced Forced Vital Capacity (FVC less than 80% of Morris' predicted). Of the 34 with reduced FVC, 27 (80%) demonstrated a restrictive pattern of impairment (FEV1/FVC greater than 0.7). Only one of these 27 workers had an abnormal chest roentgenogram (greater than or equal to 1/0 by ILO UC Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses). These findings are of interest in view of recent experimental data indicating the accumulation of PCBs and PCB metabolites in lung tissue (Brandt and Jansson). Restrictive spirometric impairment with no radiographic change is unusual in occupational exposure.