Airway Reactivity in WeldersA Controlled Prospective Cohort Study
作者:
William Beckett,
Patricia Pace,
Steven Sferlazza,
Gary Perlman,
Alice Chen,
Xi Xu,
期刊:
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
(OVID Available online 1996)
卷期:
Volume 38,
issue 12
页码: 1229-1238
ISSN:1076-2752
年代: 1996
出版商: OVID
数据来源: OVID
摘要:
In a 3-year survey, respiratory symptoms, spirometry, and methacholine reactivity were measured annually in welders (n= 51) and non-welder control subjects (n= 54) to determine whether welding-related symptoms are associated with accelerated decline in lung function or changes in airway reactivity. In the across-workshift study, maximal midexpiratory flow rate declined reversibly during a welding day, whereas 1-second forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity were unchanged. In the longitudinal study, the welders had significantly more reversible work-related symptoms of cough, phlegm, wheeze, and chest tightness than the non-welder shipyard control subjects. In this group of actively working welders, across-workshift changes in midflow and reversible symptoms were related to the welding occupation, but evidence for chronic irreversible effects on spirometry or airway reactivity was not seen over the 3 years of observation. The short period of observation was not optimal for detecting a chronic effect on lung function. Work practices and engineering controls may be successfully preventing irreversible respiratory effects, but not mild reversible effects, in this group of welders.
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