[An epidemiological study of the respiratory health of workers in the European refractory ceramic fibre industry] | Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)

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Citation
Tags

HERO ID

3098606

Reference Type

Journal Article

Title

[An epidemiological study of the respiratory health of workers in the European refractory ceramic fibre industry]

Author(s)

Cowie, HA; Wild, P; Beck, J; Auburtin, G; Piekarski, C; Massin, N; Cherrie, JW; Hurley, JF; Miller, BG; Groat, S; Soutar, CA

Year

2003

Is Peer Reviewed?

Journal

Cahiers de Notes Documentaires
ISSN: 0007-9952

Report Number

CIS/04/00579

Volume

Hygi and egrave

Issue

193

Page Numbers

23-35

Language

French

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate possible relations between respiratory health and past airborne exposure to refractory ceramic fibres (RCFs) and respirable dust in workers at six European factories. The target population comprised workers associated with RCF production. Information was collected on personal characteristics, chest radiographs, lung function, respiratory symptoms, smoking, and full occupational history. 774 workers participated. Profusion of small opacities in exposed workers was similar to that among an unexposed control group. Small opacities of International Labour Organisation (ILO) category 1/0+ were not associated with exposure. An association of borderline significance between 0/1+ opacities and exposure to respirable fibres was found for some exposure periods only, the time-related pattern being biologically implausible. Pleural changes were related to age and exposure to asbestos, and findings were consistent with an effect of time since first exposure to RCFs. Among men, forced expired volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were inversely related to exposure to fibres, in current smokers only. FEV₁/FVC ratio and transfer factor (TLCO) were not related to exposures. The estimated restrictive effect was on average mild. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms was low. Chronic bronchitis and its associated symptoms (cough, phlegm) showed some association with recent exposure to respirable fibres. This could be due to an irritant effect of RCFs.

Keywords

ceramic fibres; pulmonary function; respiratory diseases; risk factors; asbestos; chronic bronchitis; epidemiology; irritants; long-term study; maximal expiratory flow; one-second forced expiratory volume; opacities; pleural diseases; radiological changes; radiological classifications; respiratory function tests; smoking; Toxic and dangerous substances; Industries and occupations; Periodical articles; 1332-21-4