耐火陶瓷纤维对作业工人肺通气功能的影响

[目的]探讨耐火陶瓷纤维对作业工人肺通气功能的影响. [方法]选择从事耐火陶瓷纤维生产和加工的265名作业工人作为接触组,273名仅接触噪声的作业工人作为对照组,进行肺通气功能检查,指标为用力肺活量(FVC)、第一秒用力呼气量(FEV 1.0)、一秒率(第一秒用力呼气量占用力肺活量百分率,FEV 1.0/FVC),均以实测值占预计值的百分比(FVC％、FEV1.0％、FEV1.0/FVC％)表示.接触组分别按纤维计数浓度＜0.1、0.1～0.5、＞0.5 f/mL,按总粉尘质量浓度＜1、1～5、＞5 mg/m3分为低、中、高水平.低纤维低总尘亚组81人、中纤维中总尘亚组123人、中纤维高总尘亚组30人、高纤维高总尘亚组31人. [结果]接触组作业工人FVC％、FEV1.0％和FEV 1.0/FVC％的均数均低于对照组(P＜0.05);高纤维高总尘亚组作业工人FVC％和FEV1.0％的下降较其他3个亚组更为明显(P＜0.05),不同接触工龄亚组间各指标差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).接触组限制性、阻塞性和混合性肺通气功能障碍检出率为58.9％、4.5％和3.8％,与对照组的检出率10.9％、5.1％和4.0％比较,仅限制性肺通气功能障碍检出率的差别有统计学意义(P＜0.05).限制性肺通气功能障碍与纤维计数浓度、接触工龄具有关联性(P＜0.05),与总粉尘质量浓度、是否吸烟无关联性(P＞0.05). [结论]接触耐火陶瓷纤维可导致以限制性通气功能障碍为主的肺通气功能损害,限制性通气功能障碍检出率与纤维累计接触水平存在正相关关系,与纤维计数浓度的关联性优于总粉尘质量浓度.     

不同工作环境人群PM2.5暴露水平与肺功能的研究

目的评价太原市交通警察和疾病预防控制中心(CDC)人员工作环境PM2.5暴露水平,探讨工作环境PM2.5暴露与人群肺功能的关系。方法选用外勤交通警察(暴露组)、CDC人员(对照组)为研究对象,应用环境检测和时间-活动日记相结合的方法连续采样1周,计算研究对象工作时间内PM2.5暴露剂量和潜在暴露剂量。同时对研究对象进行问卷调查,于环境PM2.5检测1周结束后检测肺功能。结果交通警察工作交通路口的PM2.5浓度([0.132±0.049)mg/m3]高于CDC办公室内PM2.5浓度([0.100±0.044)mg/m3],交通警察8 h工作时间内的暴露剂量、潜在暴露剂量分别为(1.060±0.23)mg和(1.690±0.37)mg,均高于CDC人员[均为(0.798±0.19)mg];男性交通警察最大呼气流量(PEF)和第1秒钟用力呼气量/用力肺活量(FEV1.0/FVC)分别为(4.70±0.28)L/s和0.82±0.03,低于男性CDC人员[PEF和FEV1.0/FVC分别为(6.53±0.41)L/s和0.92±0.02];上述差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论交通警察的PM2.5暴露剂量和潜在暴露剂量均高于CDC人员,男性交通警察的肺功能下降可能与长期暴露于机动车尾气有关。     

兰州市大气污染对青春期青少年肺功能的影响

目的 探讨兰州市大气污染对青春期发育阶段青少年肺功能的影响.方法 于2005年12月15日-2006年2月15日(采暖期)对兰州市大气污染程度不同的3个区(西固区、城关区、榆中区)的部分大气污染物(PM2.5、SO2、NO2)进行为期15 d的监测.采用整群抽样的方法在上述3个区各选取8～18岁青少年近500名作为研究对象,进行肺功能指标测定[最大肺活量(FVC)、第1秒最大呼气量(FEV1.0)、最大肺活量百分比(%FVC)、第1秒最大呼气量占最大肺活量百分比(FEV1.0%)、75%的容量率(V75)、50%的容量率(V50)、25%的容量率(V25)].结果 大气环境质量指数表现为西固区(5.595)＞城关区(3.312)＞榆中区(0.897).城关区和西固区的PM2.5日平均浓度分别为0.120和0.233 mg/m3,超过美国制定的PM2.5日均值标准(PM2.5≤0.065 mg/m3),西固区NO2日平均浓度(0.085 mg/m3)超过GB 3095-1996二级标准(0.080mg/m3).青少年各项肺功能指标(FVC,FEV1.0,%FVC,FEV1.0%,V25,V50,V75)均表现为西固区＜城关区＜榆中区,FVC,FEV1.0,%FVC,FEV1.0%在各调查点间比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).青春发育前、中、后期各项肺功能指标表现为西固区＜城关区＜榆中区.肺通气功能阻塞型(FEV1.0%＜70%)异常率(西固区、城关区、榆中区依次为12.4%、11.1%和5.7%)在3个区间比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).偏相关性分析显示,FVC与PM2.5、SO2、NO2的日平均浓度间呈显著负相关(P＜0.01),偏相关系数分别为-0.087、-0.097和-0.122.结论 兰州市大气污染物PM2.5、SO2、NO2的综合作用对青春期青少年肺功能产生了危害,表现为肺通气功能阻塞性障碍,年龄越小影响越大,并表现出长期慢性的影响过程.     

电解铝作业工人肺通气功能的调查

目的 了解电解铝作业工人肺通气功能情况.方法 以208名电解铝工人为研究对象,进行肺通气功能测定及现场劳动卫生学调查.结果 电解铝作业工人FVC、FEV1、FEV1%、PEF、V50、V25等肺通气功能指标均较对照组明显降低,高工龄组比低工龄组降低,有非常显著性差异(P＜0.001).结论 电解铝作业可导致工人肺通气功能损害,且与工龄呈正相关关系.     

焦炉逸散物暴露对焦炉工人肺功能影响的队列研究

目的 通过对比研究同一批焦炉工人焦炉逸散物暴露5年前后肺通气功能的损伤情况,进一步探讨焦炉逸散物与焦炉工人肺通气功能损伤的关系.方法 选取山西某焦化厂焦炉作业工人165人(暴露组)和辅助工人52人(对照组)为研究对象,使用统一调查表收集工人个人信息.定点定期采集工作场所中空气样本,高压液相色谱仪测定空气样本中苯并(a)芘浓度.分别于2009和2013年使用便携式肺功能仪测定研究对象肺通气功能,并进行对比分析.结果 2009至2013年同一区域B(a)P浓度的差异无计学意意义(P＞0.05).与2009年比较,2013年对照组工人各肺功能测定值及异常率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而暴露组工人用力肺活量(FVC％)、第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV10％)、最大通气量(MVV％)、肺活量(VC％)、25％肺活量时呼气流速(FEF.％)均显著降低,FVC％、FEV10％和VC％异常率显著升高,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).新出现肺功能异常的工人主要分布在炉顶和炉侧,炉顶组FVC％、FEV1.0％、VC％新增异常人数(率)明显高于对照组和炉底组,炉侧组明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,继续暴露5年后,炉顶作业工人FVC％、FEV1.0％和VC％新出现肺功能异常的调整OR分别为7.939、5.966和4.956;接焦工龄为暴露组工人FVC％、FEV1.0％、MVV％、VC％异常的危险因素.接焦工龄与炉顶作业存在正向交互作用,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 焦炉工人肺功能损伤与焦炉逸散物暴露有关,焦炉逸散物暴露水平和暴露时间是焦炉工人肺功能损伤的主要影响因素,二者存在正交互作崩.     

沥青烟作业工人肺通气功能和胸片的改变

目的 探讨沥青烟作业工人肺通气功能和X线胸片的改变.方法 选择碳素分厂生阳极车间接触沥青烟工人53名作为接触组,选择该厂非沥青烟作业职工50名作为对照组,比较两组肺通气功能和胸部X线片的变化.结果 接触组肺活量(VC)、用力肺活量(FVC)、1秒钟用力呼气量(FEV10)、最大自主通气量(MVV)的异常率分别为34.0%、30.2%、35.8%、37.7%,对照组的异常率分别为10.0%、16.0%、12.0%、10.0%,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).与对照组比较,接触组VC、MVV、FEV10明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).接触组FEV10与接触工龄呈负相关(r=-0.321,P＜0.05),MVV与接触工龄呈负相关(r=-0.287,P＜0.05).接触组肺纹理改变阳性检出率为34.0%,对照组肺纹理改变阳性检出率为16.0%,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).接触工龄5～20年组和＞20年组肺纹理改变阳性胸片检出率均高于＜5年组,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 沥青烟能引起作业工人肺通气功能的改变,与接触工龄有关.     

武汉市春秋季室外不同粒径颗粒物暴露对大学生1秒用力呼气量的急性影响

目的研究春、秋季室外颗粒物PM10、PM2.5及PM2.5-10的短期暴露对大学生肺功能1秒用力呼气量(FEV1)的影响。方法选取武汉市某大学2年级37名学生作为研究对象,采用固定群组追踪研究的方法,于2009年秋季(10月29日—11月11日,连续14 d)和2010年春季(3月24日—4月6日,连续14 d)两个时段内分别测定其早、晚FEV1,同时监测室外PM10、PM2.5浓度和温湿度变化。构建广义估计方程定量评价颗粒物暴露对学生FEV1的影响。结果春季PM10、PM2.5和PM2.5-10浓度每升高10μg/m3时,当晚FEV1分别下降0.20%(β的95%CI:-0.37%~-0.04%),0.48%(β的95%CI:-0.88%~-0.07%)和0.29%(β的95%CI:-0.53%~-0.04%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05),但其滞后和累积效应无统计学意义(P0.05)。秋季大气颗粒物的暴露与晚上FEV1无统计学关联(P0.05),PM2.5-10浓度每升高10μg/m3时,滞后3 d的早上FEV1下降0.41%(95%CI:-0.81%~0.00%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论武汉市春、秋季室外颗粒物的短期暴露对大学生FEV1存在急性影响,其中PM2.5-10暴露对肺功能的影响亦应引起重视。     

金属粉尘对男性作业工人呼吸系统影响的调查

为了探讨金属粉尘作业工人的呼吸系统症状阳性率和肺通气功能状况,我们选择129名接触金属粉尘的作业工人作为接触组,126名非接触粉尘的作业工人作为对照组,采用美国胸科协会制订的标准化呼吸系统症状询问表和用力肺活量测试方法进行了调查。结果显示,咳嗽、咯痰、气短、喘息等呼吸系统症状阳性率和慢性支气管炎患病率,接触组中吸烟者(27.13%,20.15%,17.83%,19.38%,16.93%)和非吸烟者(14.73%,10.85%,15.50,10.85%,8.13%)高于对照组中吸烟者(13.49%,9.52%,8.73%,11.11%,8.97%)和非吸烟者(7.93%,7.14%,8.73%,4.76%,4.05%),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),且以接触组中吸烟者发生率最高。肺通气功能指标FVC,FEV1.0,FEV1.0%的实测值占预计值百分比,接触组中吸烟者(83.23±18.03,84.42±21.36,89.50±13.31)和非吸烟者(86.83±15.61,85.59±17.16,90.67±18.13)低于对照组中吸烟者(93.44±12.49,88.75±12.56,93.97±17.13)和非吸烟者(94.86±11.19,90.63±12.27,94.73±16.02),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。接触组中吸烟者和非吸烟者FVC,FEV1.0,FEV1.0%的实测值占预计值百分比随着接尘工龄的延长而呈递减趋势,尤其吸烟者和非吸烟者接尘工龄≤5 a组分别与接尘工龄≥11 a组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。说明金属粉尘与作业工人呼吸系统功能的变化有直接关系;吸烟是金属粉尘作业工人发生呼吸系统功能损伤的危险因素;且随着接尘工龄的延长有加重的趋势。     

徐州铁路分局电焊作业场所卫生状况调查

[目的]探讨电焊尘对作业工人肺通气功能的影响。[方法]2004年4月，对徐州铁路分局电焊作业现场进行了劳动卫生学调查，对电焊工进行了肺通气功能测定。[结果]作业场所电焊烟尘浓度较高。检测238名电焊工人，肺活量（VC）、用力肺活量（FVC）、第一秒用力肺活量（FEV1.0）、FEV1.0％（FEV1．0／FVC百分比）均低于506名非接尘的对照组（P〈0．01）。肺通气功能异常率接尘组为32．77%，对照组为8．50％（P〈0．01），2组均有随着工龄的增加异常率增高的趋势（P〈0．01）。[结论]电焊烟尘可引起电焊工的肺通气功能损伤，接尘工龄与肺通气功能损伤有密切关系。     

某煤业集团煤工尘肺病人肺通气功能分析

目的了解某煤业集团煤工尘肺病人和接尘非煤工尘肺病人肺通气功能损伤情况,探讨煤工尘肺病人不同工种、工龄、分期之间肺通气功能损伤的差异。方法选取某煤业集团确诊的煤工尘肺病人555名。另外选取该煤业集团555名接尘的非煤工尘肺病人和207名非接尘工人作为对照。采用统一的体检表格,由专业医师进行统一体检,并逐一填写表格。肺功能测定仪器为北京产AS.507型肺量计,进行肺通气功能指标测定。运用卡方检验、单因素方差分析、相关分析进行统计学处理。结果尘肺病人组肺功能异常率高于接尘非尘肺病人组和不接尘健康工人组,差异有统计学意义(χ2=193.319,P<0.001);采用单因素方差分析,三组人群各指标的比较结果显示,尘肺病人组的FEV1.0相对值和FEV1.0%低于接尘非尘肺病人组和不接尘工人组,尘肺病人组和接尘非病人组的FVC相对值均低于不接尘工人组。555名尘肺病人包括不吸烟108人、戒烟427人和吸烟20人,其肺功能异常率分别是67.6%、74.5%和90.0%(χ2=4.381,P=0.036<0.05),不吸烟组和吸烟组的FVC相对值均低于戒烟组,戒烟组的FEV1.0%明显低于不吸烟组。FEV1.0相对值在各组之间差异无统计学意义。各工种之间FVC相对值、FEV1.0相对值,FEV1.0%比较,差异均无统计学意义;各工龄组之间差异亦无统计学意义。各期别尘肺病人FVC相对值、FEV1.0相对值比较,差异无统计学意义,但贰期、叁期尘肺病人FEV1.0%高于壹期尘肺病人。结论接尘非煤工尘肺病人与煤工尘肺病人肺通气功能均有损伤,煤工尘肺病人肺通气功能损伤重于接尘非煤工尘肺病人,说明肺通气功能可以作为监测煤工尘肺的早期敏感动态观察指标。吸烟是影响肺通气功能的一个重要因素,吸烟加剧煤工尘肺病人肺通气功能的损伤程度。     

Airway disease caused by phenolic (phenol-formaldehyde) resin exposure.

A standardized respiratory questionnaire and pulmonary function tests, including measurement of forced vital capacity (FVC), one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0), and maximum expiratory flow rate at 50% FVC (MEF50%), were administered to five groups of employees in a filter-manufacturing plant to determine the acute and chronic effects of exposure to phenolic resin fumes. Employees exposed for more than five years had lower FEV1.0/FVC and MEF50%/FVC ratios than a group that had smoked more but that had never been consistently exposed to resin fumes. The existence of chronic airway obstruction was also evident by a slight excess of chronic cough and sputum production in the exposed groups. However, in spite of the high proportions of subjects reporting acute respiratory symptoms, we found only small decreased in pulmonary function during the workday and workweek.     

Effects of industrial pollution on respiratory morbidity among female residents of India

The authors evaluated the respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function test results (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], and ratio of FEV1 to FVC [FEV1%]) of female residents of the critically polluted industrial estate of Vapi, Gujarat (state), India, and compared these with control information derived from a village 20 km away. The authors categorized the studied residents as living in Vapi, in town, or in villages proximal to the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation; living 2 to 3 km away from Vapi; living 3 to 5 km away from Vapi; and being in the control group. The authors found no significant association between respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among Vapi residents. However, the obstructive type of abnormality was most predominant and significantly different among Vapi residents. The restrictive type was highly prevalent among residents living 2 to 3 km away from Vapi compared with the control group. These results suggest significant respiratory morbidity among residents that was associated with age and distance from the development corporation.     

南宁市空气污染水平不同的两区儿童肺功能及其影响因素的研究

目的 比较南宁市不同空气污染水平地区儿童肺功能的差异,探讨肺功能的影响相关因素。方法 按整群抽样方法,在南宁市青秀区和西乡塘区各选1所小学（A校和B校）3～4年级的儿童共537人作为研究对象,进行肺功能测试和问卷调查。结果 两区大气首要污染物都为PM2.5和PM10,青秀区A校周围大气中PM2.5、PM10、SO2、NO2年均浓度低于西乡塘区B校（P＜0.05）;控制年龄、身高、体重等因素后,青秀区A校女生FVC、FEV1.0、PEF、FEF25%～75%、FEF25%和FEF50%实测值均高于西乡塘区B校,A校男生FEV1.0实测值也高于B校,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;学校所在地区、房屋1年内购置大件家具、房屋3年内装修、房屋内饲养宠物和使用空气净化器是影响儿童肺功能的主要因素（P＜0.05）。结论 南宁市空气污染与儿童肺功能下降有关,且女生较男生对空气污染物更敏感;室内空气质量也是影响儿童肺功能的重要因素,空气净化器的使用对儿童肺功能有保护作用。     

Pulmonary function in firefighters: acute changes in ventilatory capacity and their correlates.

A group of 39 firefighters was examined during routine firefighing duty. Following smoke exposure the average decrease in one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0) was 0.05 litre (137 observations). This decline in FEV1.0 was related to the severity of smoke exposure as estimated by the firefighter and to the measured particulate concentration of the smoke to which he was exposed. Decreases in FEV1.0 in excess of 0.10 litre were recorded in 30% of observations. Changes in FEV1.0 resulting from a second exposure to smoke on the same tour of duty were greater when smoke exposure at the previous fire was heavy. The repeated episodes of irritation of the bronchial tree that have been documented in this investigation may explain the origin of the previously observed chronic effect of firefighting on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function.     

Pulmonary function in firefighters: acute changes in ventilatory capacity and their correlates.

A group of 39 firefighters was examined during routine firefighing duty. Following smoke exposure the average decrease in one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0) was 0.05 litre (137 observations). This decline in FEV1.0 was related to the severity of smoke exposure as estimated by the firefighter and to the measured particulate concentration of the smoke to which he was exposed. Decreases in FEV1.0 in excess of 0.10 litre were recorded in 30% of observations. Changes in FEV1.0 resulting from a second exposure to smoke on the same tour of duty were greater when smoke exposure at the previous fire was heavy. The repeated episodes of irritation of the bronchial tree that have been documented in this investigation may explain the origin of the previously observed chronic effect of firefighting on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function.     

职业接触岩棉对肺通气功能及呼吸系统症状的影响

目的探讨职业性接触岩棉对肺通气功能及呼吸系统症状的影响。方法选择70名岩棉生产和加工人员作为接触组,51名空气分离企业的劳动者作为对照组。进行现场职业卫生学调查,对所有调查对象进行肺通气功能健康检查和呼吸系统症状问卷调查。结果接触组中所有岗位每班接触的纤维浓度均<1f/ml,生产线操作工和深加工班操作工每班接触的总粉尘浓度>3mg/m3。接触组FVC%和FEV1.0/FVC%均数低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);接触组中3个不同接触工龄组FVC%、FEV1.0%和FEV1.0/FVC%均数比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。限制性通气功能障碍是岩棉致肺通气功能损害的主要类型,与接触工龄呈线性趋势关系(P<0.05),与吸烟未显示有关联性(P>0.05),吸烟与岩棉未显示具有联合作用(P>0.05)。接触组与对照组呼吸系统症状比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论长期接触低纤维浓度水平的岩棉,仍能够损害劳动者的肺通气功能,应控制其总粉尘浓度的接触水平。     

Respiratory symptoms and lung function in jute processing workers: a primary investigation

This paper presents the results of an investigation of respiratory symptoms and lung function of 404 workers who had been exposed to jute dust in a jute mill. Measurement of total dust concentration and analysis of dust composition were also conducted. Most workers in the jute mill were exposed to jute dusts containing less than 5% silica, whereas a few workers were exposed to dusts containing approximately 10-15% silica. Male smokers and nonsmokers in the dust-exposed group had a higher prevalence of cough and chest tightness compared with those in the control group. Among dust-exposed workers, female nonsmokers had a significantly higher prevalence of cough, chronic bronchitis, chest tightness, and dyspnea than those in the control group. Lung function tests showed that dust-exposed workers had a greater incidence of abnormal lung function than did control workers, as measured by percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0), and FEV1.0/FVC. Dust exposure was the main cause of respiratory symptoms and abnormal values of FEV1.0, but both cigarette smoking and dust exposure contributed to the abnormal values reported for FEV1.0.     

Long-term residence in areas of high ozone: associations with respiratory health in a nationwide sample of nonsmoking young adults [dsee comments]

Few studies have examined the respiratory effects of multiyear ozone exposures in human populations. We examined associations between current respiratory health status and long-term ozone exposure histories in 520 Yale College (New Haven, CT) students who never smoked. Questionnaires addressed current respiratory symptoms, respiratory disease history, residential history, and other factors. The symptoms of cough, phlegm, wheeze apart from colds, and a composite respiratory symptom index (RSI) were selected as outcome measures. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV(1)), forced expiratory flow rate between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF(25-75)), and forced expiratory flow rate at 75% of FVC (FEF(75)) were obtained by forced expiration into spirometers. Ozone exposure was treated as a dichotomous variable, where subjects were assigned to the high-exposure group if they lived for 4 or more years in a U.S. county with 10-year average summer-season daily 1-hr maximum ozone levels [greater/equal to] 80 ppb. Lung function and respiratory symptoms were analyzed by multiple linear and logistic regression on ozone exposure, controlling for covariates. Lung function was lower in the group with high ozone exposures: differences were statistically significant for FEV(1) [-3.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.2 to -5.9%] and FEF(25-75) (-8.1%; CI, -2.3 to -13.9%), and nearly so for FEF(75) (-6.7%; CI, 1.4 to -14.8). Gender-specific analyses revealed stronger associations for males than for females. The symptoms of chronic phlegm, wheeze apart from colds, and RSI were increased in the ozone-exposed group, with odds ratios of 1.79 (CI, 0.83-3.82), 1.97 (CI, 1.06-3.66), and 2.00 (CI, 1.15-3.46), respectively. We conclude that living for 4 or more years in regions of the country with high levels of ozone and related copollutants is associated with diminished lung function and more frequent reports of respiratory symptoms.     

The health effects of automobile exhaust. VI. Relationship of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in tunnel and turnpike workers

To examine the effect of automobile exhaust on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function, the authors studied 175 tunnel and turnpike workers employed by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority on two occasions 3 yr apart beginning in 1972. A standard respiratory symptom and illness questionnaire was administered, spirometry was performed, and proximal hair lead and blood lead content were measured as biologic indices of automobile exhaust exposure. One hundred nine (63%) workers were current cigarette smokers, 41 (23%) were exsmokers, and 24 (14%) had never smoked. Smoking was strongly related to respiratory symptoms of cough (P less than .001) and phlegm production (P less than .001), but not to wheezing (P = .41), breathlessness (P = .14), bronchial asthma (P = .13), or frequent chest colds (P = .14). When workers were stratified by smoking status, no effect could be seen between high automobile exhaust exposure as measured by a variety of parameters and all of the above respiratory symptoms and illnesses. The level of pulmonary function [forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] was not related to past or current exhaust exposure in a cross-sectional analysis when we controlled for age, height, and cigarette consumption. In a prospective analysis of 84 of these workers, the observed changes in FEV1.0 and FVC over 3 yr were unrelated to exhaust exposure after controlling for age, height, cigarette consumption, and initial level of pulmonary function.     

Respiratory Effects of Occupational Exposure to an Epoxy Resin System

A standardized respiratory questionnaire and pulmonary function tests were used to examine thirty-four employees of a snow-ski manufacturing plant, including twenty-five workers who were exposed to an epoxy resin system containing the amine hardener 3- dimethylamino propylamine (3-DMAPA). Maximum expiratory flow-volume curves were obtained on Monday and Thursday, before and after each shift, and FVC, FEV 1.0, MEF50%, and MEF25% were calculated. Environmental measurements of the total amine levels were found to range from 0.41 to 1.38 ppm. The group with the greatest exposure (0.55-1.38 ppm) showed significant decreases in lung function over Monday and over the week. Although all employees in this group showed decreases in pulmonary function, acute changes were greater in present cigarette smokers and in subjects who reported respiratory symptoms upon exposure to the epoxy resin system. There was no evidence of permanent loss of lung function in subjects with either the highest or longest exposure.