Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Occupational exposures play a role in the onset of several chronic airway diseases. We investigated, in a cross-sectional study, lung function parameters and bronchial hyper-responsiveness to histamine in workers exposed to different airborne compounds.</p>...

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Main Authors: Hoet Peter H, Nawrot Tim S, Ould-Kadi Farid, Nemery Benoit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2007-10-01
Series:Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Online Access:http://www.occup-med.com/content/2/1/11
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author Hoet Peter H
Nawrot Tim S
Ould-Kadi Farid
Nemery Benoit
author_facet Hoet Peter H
Nawrot Tim S
Ould-Kadi Farid
Nemery Benoit
author_sort Hoet Peter H
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Occupational exposures play a role in the onset of several chronic airway diseases. We investigated, in a cross-sectional study, lung function parameters and bronchial hyper-responsiveness to histamine in workers exposed to different airborne compounds.</p> <p>The study group totalled 546 male subjects of whom 114 were exposed to welding fumes, 106 to solvents, 107 to mineral dust, 97 to organic dust and 123 without known exposure to airway irritants. A questionnaire was administered and spirometry and bronchial responsiveness to histamine were assessed by one observer, in the morning before work to prevent effects of acute exposure.</p> <p>The mean (SD) age of the participants was 39.3 (7.8) years, with a mean duration of employment of 13.8 (6.6) years. Both before and after adjustment for smoking status, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV<sub>1</sub>, expressed as % predicted) was lower in welders -4.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], -6.3 to -1.8; p = 0.01) and workers exposed to solvents -5.6% (CI: -7.9 to -3.3; p = 0.0009) than in control subjects. Furthermore, solvent workers had an odds ratio of 3.43 (95% CI: 1.09–11.6; p = 0.037) for bronchial hyperresponsiveness compared with the reference group.</p> <p>The higher prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in solvent workers adds to the growing body of evidence of adverse respiratory effects of occupational solvent exposure. These results point to the necessity of preventive measures in solvent workers to avoid these adverse respiratory effects.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-b5ac349d0fb040e0a7f31fc9208858ca2022-12-22T02:19:54ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732007-10-01211110.1186/1745-6673-2-11Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from AlgeriaHoet Peter HNawrot Tim SOuld-Kadi FaridNemery Benoit<p>Abstract</p> <p>Occupational exposures play a role in the onset of several chronic airway diseases. We investigated, in a cross-sectional study, lung function parameters and bronchial hyper-responsiveness to histamine in workers exposed to different airborne compounds.</p> <p>The study group totalled 546 male subjects of whom 114 were exposed to welding fumes, 106 to solvents, 107 to mineral dust, 97 to organic dust and 123 without known exposure to airway irritants. A questionnaire was administered and spirometry and bronchial responsiveness to histamine were assessed by one observer, in the morning before work to prevent effects of acute exposure.</p> <p>The mean (SD) age of the participants was 39.3 (7.8) years, with a mean duration of employment of 13.8 (6.6) years. Both before and after adjustment for smoking status, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV<sub>1</sub>, expressed as % predicted) was lower in welders -4.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], -6.3 to -1.8; p = 0.01) and workers exposed to solvents -5.6% (CI: -7.9 to -3.3; p = 0.0009) than in control subjects. Furthermore, solvent workers had an odds ratio of 3.43 (95% CI: 1.09–11.6; p = 0.037) for bronchial hyperresponsiveness compared with the reference group.</p> <p>The higher prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in solvent workers adds to the growing body of evidence of adverse respiratory effects of occupational solvent exposure. These results point to the necessity of preventive measures in solvent workers to avoid these adverse respiratory effects.</p>http://www.occup-med.com/content/2/1/11
spellingShingle Hoet Peter H
Nawrot Tim S
Ould-Kadi Farid
Nemery Benoit
Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
title Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria
title_full Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria
title_fullStr Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria
title_full_unstemmed Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria
title_short Respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents: a study from Algeria
title_sort respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness among industrial workers exposed to different classes of occupational agents a study from algeria
url http://www.occup-med.com/content/2/1/11
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