某烟叶复烤厂接尘工人肺功能配对研究

本文分析对烟叶复烤厂１１４名接尘工人（接尘组）、６１名调离粉尘作业工人（调离组）与对照工人（对照组）进行了肺功能的配对比较分析，结果表明：不论是接尘组，还是调离组，ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１、ＭＭＦ与Ｖ５０等肺功能指标的实测值、实测值占预计值的百分比均较对照组明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０５或＜０．０１）；异常率则明显升高（Ｐ＜０．０５或＜０．０１）。多因素分析结果表明，累积接尘量与接尘工龄是影响接尘工人肺功能下降的     

铸钢与铸铁接尘工人肺功能测定的比较分析

本文对５０６名铸钢接尘工人，１５５０名铸铁接尘工人．７３８名对照工人进行了肺通气功能的测定与比较分析。结果表明：无论吸烟与否、铸钢、铸铁接尘工人ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１．０等肺功能指标的实测值占预计值百分比的下降，肺功能异常率的升高，均较对照工人为明显，铸钢工人肺功能的损害尤为严重。三年追踪观察结果显示：铸钢工人ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１．０的年均下降值大于铸铁工人。铸钢与铸铁接尘工人相同累计接尘量，相同接尘工龄与相同工种间的比较，亦均显示铸钢工人肺功能的损害较铸铁工人为重。     

影响铸钢接尘工人肺功能损害的因素分析

对沈阳重型机器厂铸钢车间５０６名铸钢接尘工人进行了肺功能测定与影响因素分析。结果表明：不论吸烟与否，铸钢接尘工人ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１、ＦＥＦ２５－７５％、Ｖ７５、Ｖ５０和ＦＥＶ１／ＦＶＣ％等肺功能指标的实测值占预计值百分比较对照组明显低（Ｐ均＜０．０１）．接尘工人肺功能损害随着累计接尘量的增加和接尘工龄的延长而加重。清砂工肺功能损害较其它工种为重．多因素分析表明：粉尘是影响工人肺功能损害的主要因素．     

滑石粉尘对接尘工人肺通气功能影响的配对研究

本文按照配对设计方法，以年龄、身高、体重与吸烟习惯等作为配对条件，进行了滑石接尘工人肺功能损害的研究。结果表明，无论吸烟与否，接尘组ＦＶＣ，ＦＥＶ１，ＭＭＦ，ＰＥＦ，Ｖ＿（５０），Ｖ＿（２５）等指标的实测值，实测值占预计值％均较对照组显著降低，肺功能异常率明显升高，且多具有显著或非常显著的意义。     

铸钢和铸铁接尘工人肺功能损害的配对分析

本文按配对设计的原则，严格控制年龄、身高、吸烟量、接尘量等因素，分别对５２名铸钢和铸铁接尘工人进行了肺功能的比较分析，结果表明铸钢接尘工人的ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ_（１．０）、ＦＥＦ_（２５～７５）、Ｖ_（７５）、Ｖ_（５０）、Ｖ_（２５）等肺功能指标均低于铸铁接尘工人，ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ_（１．０）有显著意义的差别（Ｐ＜０．０５）；相同接尘工龄、相同累计接尘量的配对结果，尘龄小于２０年或累计接尘量小于５００毫克·年时，两组肺功能损害未见差别（Ｐ＞０．０５），当尘龄大于２０年或累计接尘量大于５００毫克·年时，铸钢接尘工人肺功能各项指标明显低于铸铁接尘工人（Ｐ＜０．０５或Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

烟草工人粉尘接触水平与肺功能损害的卫生学调查

对３０２名接触烟草粉尘工人与３２３名对照工人进行了肺功能检测．结果表明．接尘组工人肺功能各项指标（ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１、ＭＭＦ、Ｖ（５０）、Ｖ（２５））的实测值占预计值百分比均较对照组为低；肺功能损害随累积接尘量增加而加重（Ｐ＜０．０１），肺功能异常率则随累积接尘量增加而增高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

电焊烟尘对工人肺功能影响的配对研究

本文按照配对比较的原则，以年龄、身高、体重及吸烟习惯等作为配对条件，对９１对男性电焊工人与非接尘工人的肺通气功能进行了研究。结果表明，电焊工ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１、ＦＥＶ１％、ＭＭＦ、Ｖ５０、Ｖ２５等指标实测值均明显降低，肺通气功能异常例数明显增加，且具有显著意义     

皮毛加工工人粉尘接触水平与肺功能损害的关系

对２１２名接触皮毛粉尘工人与２０７名对照工人进行了肺功能检测。并对累积接尘量与肺功能损害的关系进行了分析。结果表明，接尘组肺功能各项指标（ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１、Ｖ５０、Ｖ２５）的实测值占预计值％均较对照组为低。肺功能损害随累积接尘量的增加而加重（Ｐ＜０．０１），肺功能异常率则随累积接尘量增加而增高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。多因素分析表明，接尘是影响肺功能下降的主要因素，吸烟也与肺功能呈负相关关系。皮毛粉尘接触水平与肺功能损害呈明显的接触水平－反应关系。据此本文推荐了皮毛粉尘的接触限值。     

烟草粉尘对男女接尘工人肺功能损害的比较研究

对甘烟叶复烤厂男女接尘工人肺功能进行了测定，在接尘女工与对照女工肺功能比较的基础上，进行了男女接尘工人之间的配对比较。结果表明，女性 工人比男性工人肺功能ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１两指标实测值占预计值百分比有明显降低，两指标异常率有明显增高，且均呈显著或非常显著的统计学意义，提示在相同工种、相同工龄及相同年龄时，烟草粉尘对男女接尘工人肺功能的损害程度的差别，对女工功能的损害重于男工。     

铸造工人肺功能和呼吸系统症状的配对分析

对４３４名铸造工人与３６名脱离铸造粉尘作业的工人进行了肺功能以及呼吸系统症状与慢性支气管炎患病情况的配对分析。结果表明：接尘与脱尘组ＦＶＣ、ＦＥＶ１、ＦＥＦ２５－７５％、Ｖ７５、Ｖ５０、等肺功能指标的实测值均较对照组明显降低．肺功能异常人数则均较对照组显著升高。接尘组呼吸系统症状的阳性数与慢性支气管炎的患病数均显著高于对照组；与对照组相比，脱尘组呼吸系统症状的阳性数与慢性支气管炎患病数也均有增高的趋势。     

Respiratory diseases in wood workers

A survey was carried out on wood workers and on a group of unexposed, healthy controls. One group of wood workers (group A) were asymptomatic and another (group B) had symptoms either of chronic cough and dyspnoea on exertion (B1) or dyspnoea at work and bronchial hyperreactivity (B2). The control group (group C) was randomly selected from among a population of laboratory workers. No significant differences were found among the groups with respect to the frequency of atopy but the prevalence of a positive skin reaction to wood extracts was significantly higher in the asthmatic subjects. The adjusted FVC and FEV1/FVC% were significantly higher in B1 than in the other groups; the FEV1 was lower in B1 than in B2 and in B2 than in the other groups; TLCO and KCO differed significantly in all four groups. A significant negative correlation was observed between FEV1, MEF50, TLCO and KCO and duration of exposure to wood dusts. The alveolar volumes were not significantly different between the groups and were not correlated with duration of exposure. These results confirm the observation that exposure to wood dust or to some bronchoreactive substances linked with wood working can induce chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). Some cases of wood dust asthma seem to be related to an immediate allergic reaction, but precipitating antibodies appear to be an index of exposure rather than of disease. The decrease in diffusion capacity can be ascribed to a thickening of the alveolar capillary membranes secondary to an alveolitis like, non-symptomatic, allergic reaction.     

Lung function in Pakistani wood workers

The lung function impairment is the most common respiratory problem in industrial plants and their vicinity. Therefore, the purpose was to study the affects of wood dust and its duration of exposure on lung function. This was a matched cross-sectional study of Spirometry in 46 non-smoking wood workers with age range 20 - 60 years, who worked without the benefit of wood dust control ventilation or respiratory protective devices. Pulmonary function test was performed by using an electronic Spirometer. Significant reduction was observed in the mean values of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in wood workers relative to their matched controls. This impairment was increased with the duration of exposure to wood industries. It is concluded that lung function in wood workers is impaired and stratification of results shows a dose-response effect of years of wood dust exposure on lung function.     

Respiratory diseases in wood workers.

A survey was carried out on wood workers and on a group of unexposed, healthy controls. One group of wood workers (group A) were asymptomatic and another (group B) had symptoms either of chronic cough and dyspnoea on exertion (B1) or dyspnoea at work and bronchial hyperreactivity (B2). The control group (group C) was randomly selected from among a population of laboratory workers. No significant differences were found among the groups with respect to the frequency of atopy but the prevalence of a positive skin reaction to wood extracts was significantly higher in the asthmatic subjects. The adjusted FVC and FEV1/FVC% were significantly higher in B1 than in the other groups; the FEV1 was lower in B1 than in B2 and in B2 than in the other groups; TLCO and KCO differed significantly in all four groups. A significant negative correlation was observed between FEV1, MEF50, TLCO and KCO and duration of exposure to wood dusts. The alveolar volumes were not significantly different between the groups and were not correlated with duration of exposure. These results confirm the observation that exposure to wood dust or to some bronchoreactive substances linked with wood working can induce chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). Some cases of wood dust asthma seem to be related to an immediate allergic reaction, but precipitating antibodies appear to be an index of exposure rather than of disease. The decrease in diffusion capacity can be ascribed to a thickening of the alveolar capillary membranes secondary to an alveolitis like, non-symptomatic, allergic reaction.     

Genotoxic exposure of workers creosoting wood.

In a small wood preserving industry spot samples were taken from contaminated surfaces at several places and tested for mutagenicity. The results suggest that the application of a wipe test can give a first indication of occupational exposure to mutagenic and carcinogenic substances, particularly when exposure occurs more from skin contact than from inhalation. One of the pesticide chemicals used to preserve wood is the mutagenic creosote . It was found that mutagens appeared in the urine of rats after intraperitoneal administration of creosote . Despite these results, no increase in mutagenicity could be detected in the urine of creosote workers in relation to their work.     

Exposure to wood dust and heavy metals in workers using CCA pressure-treated wood

Chemical pesticide treatment enables relatively nonresistant woods to be used in outdoor construction projects. The most prevalent procedure used to protect these woods is pressure treatment with chromium, copper, and arsenic (CCA). This pilot study examined the airborne concentration and particle size distribution of wood particles, chromium, copper, and arsenic at both outdoor (measured over the whole work day) and indoor (measured during the performance of specific tasks) work sites. At the outdoor residential deck construction sites, the arithmetic mean total dust concentration, measured using personal filter cassette samplers, was 0.57 mg/m3. The mass median aerodynamic diameter (da) of the outdoor wood dust was greater than 20 microm. Indoor wood dust concentrations were significantly greater than those measured outdoor and were job category-dependent. The highest mean breathing zone dust concentration, 49.0 mg/m3, was measured at the indoor sanding operation. Personal impactor sampling demonstrated that the mean total airborne concentration of arsenic, but not chromium or copper, was consistently above recommended occupational exposure levels at the indoor work site, and occasionally at the outdoor work sites. At the indoor sanding operation, the mean total chromium, copper, and arsenic concentrations were 345, 170, and 342 microg/m3, respectively. Thus, significant exposure to airborne heavy metals can occur as a result of indoor and outdoor exposure to CCA pressure-treated wood dust. Therefore, current standards for wood dust may not adequately protect workers from the heavy metals commonly used in CCA pressure-treated wood.     

Health effects of chlorophenol wood preservatives on sawmill workers

At the request of the International Woodworkers of America, Local 1-85, woodworkers in two Port Alberni, British Columbia, sawmills were surveyed for health complaints possibly associated with chlorophenol exposure. On the basis of their exposure to anti-sapstain, workers were divided into low/moderate and high exposure groups. Health status was determined through a questionnaire that included lists of symptoms associated with exposure to chlorophenates and their contaminants. Extensive differences were found between exposure groups, especially in terms of the prevalence and extensiveness of symptoms related to dermatological, upper and general respiratory, and neurological structures and functions. Significant elevations of a wide range of other symptom complaints directly related to chemical exposure were also found. While improved spray control operations and the use of personal protective equipment will decrease injury among workers, they cannot be expected to decrease the hazards of chlorophenol exposure to an acceptable level. The only effective means of eliminating worker and public health risks attendant with these chemical exposures is to implement an alternative means of anti-sapstain treatment and to seek an end to the use of chlorophenol for this purpose.     

Early detection of lung cancer potential among Egyptian wood workers

Wood dust is known to be a human carcinogen, with a considerable risk of lung cancer. The increased cancer risk is likely induced through its genotoxic effects resulting from oxidative DNA damage. This study aimed at assessing the genotoxicity of wood dust and demonstrating the role of sputum PCR as a screening tool for early prediction of lung cancer among wood workers. The study was carried out in the carpentry section of a modernized factory involved with the manufacture of wooden furniture in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Environmental assessment of respirable wood dust concentrations was done. Frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA%) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE%) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was assessed and comet assays were performed in samples from among the study population (n = 86). Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes were measured. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to study hypermethylation of p16 and ?or O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoters in sputum DNA. The concentrations of respirable wood dust exceeded the Egyptian and international permissible limits with highest levels generated by sawing operations. Laboratory investigations revealed statistically significantly higher frequencies of CA and SCE as well as increased comet tail length associated with significant decrement in the levels of SOD and GPx among exposed group. A statistically significant elevation in the extent of hypermethylation was detected for the p16 and MGMT gene promoters in the sputum DNA of studied wood workers. The study results support the conclusion that prolonged unprotected occupational exposure to wood dust is associated with possible genotoxicity and oxidative stress that might raise the risk for carcinogenesis including lung cancer.     

Reduced fertility among female wood workers exposed to formaldehyde.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate whether exposure to formaldehyde, organic solvents or other chemicals in the wood-processing industry affects the fertility of women. METHODS: For this purpose, a retrospective study on time to pregnancy was conducted among female wood workers who had given birth during 1985-1995. Data on pregnancy history, time to pregnancy, occupational exposures, and potential confounders were collected by a questionnaire; 64% (699/1,094) participated. The exposure assessment was conducted by an occupational hygienist. The data on time to pregnancy were analyzed with the discrete proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Exposure to formaldehyde was significantly associated with delayed conception: adjusted fecundability density ratio, FDR, was 0.64 (95% CI 0.43-0.92). At high exposure if no gloves were used, the FDR was 0.51 (% CI 0.28-0.92). Exposure to phenols, dusts, wood dusts, or organic solvents was not related to the time to pregnancy. Additionally, an association was observed between exposure to formaldehyde and an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (concerning previous spontaneous abortions, reported by the women). Associations between exposure to formaldehyde or to organic solvents and endometriosis, and between exposure to organic solvents or to dusts and salpingo-oophoritis were also suggested. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that a woman's occupational exposure to formaldehyde has an adverse effect on fertility.