Obstructive and restrictive ventilatory impairment in polyvinylchloride fabrication workers |
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Authors: | P Ernst L De Guire B Armstrong G Thériault |
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Affiliation: | School of Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. |
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Abstract: | Responses to a standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire, spirometry, and cross-shift decreases in lung function between 70 current employees of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) fabrication plant and a control group consisting of 48 men employed in a vegetable packing plant were compared. FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in the PVC workers. Cross-shift drops in Vmax75 of 15% or more were also more prevalent in the exposed group (p = .01). When examining the association between months of work within the exposed workforce and spirometric indices of airway obstruction, no relationship could be demonstrated. However, an inverse dose-response relationship was seen between level of FVC and duration of employment, suggesting a restrictive impairment. While the specific exposures have not been identified, it appears that employment in PVC fabrication may be associated with both obstructive and restrictive ventilatory effects. |
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Keywords: | respiratory health lung function occupation polyvinylchloride |
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