Association of years of occupational quartz exposure with spirometric airflow limitation in Norwegian men aged 30-46 years

Abstract

Background-The association between occupational quartz exposure and ventilatory function was investigated in men in a general population after adjusting for other potential determinants of outcome. Methods-All eligible men aged 30-46 years living in western Norway (n = 45 380) were invited to a cross sectional community survey. This included a self administered questionnaire (with respiratory symptoms, smoking habits and occupational exposures), spirometric recordings (using dry wedge bellow spirometers), and a chest radiograph (65% attendance). Measurements of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were obtained in 91% (n = 26 803) of those who participated, 26 106 of whom performed successful spirometric tests and had normal chest radiographs and remained for further analysis. Age, body mass index, and technician standardised residuals ((observed minus predicted value)/residual standard error) of maximum FEV 1 /height 2 and FVC/height 2 were used as outcome variables for adjusted lung function levels, respectively. Results-Occupational quartz exposure was reported by 13% (n = 3445) of those who participated in the survey, with a mean duration of seven years. Among those exposed to quartz, significant inverse linear relationships were observed between years of exposure and FEV 1 level and the ratio of FEV 1 /FVC, independent of host characteristics. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the difference in FEV 1 associated with each year of quartz exposure was -4.3 ml (95% Cl -1.1 to -7.5 ml; p = 0.01) compared with -6.9 ml (95% Cl -4.7 to -9.1 ml; p<0.01) from smoking 20 cigarettes/day for one year after adjusting for age, atopy, asthma, wheezing, marital status, and other occupational exposures. Conclusion-In men aged 30-46 years with occupational quartz exposure and normal chest radiographs the duration of occupational quartz exposure was an independent predictor for spirometric airflow limitation. (Thorax 1998;53:649-655)

Respiratory Health and Silica Exposure of Stone Carvers in Thailand

“…16 Similar results were also found among silica exposed gemstone workers in Hong Kong. 17 The decreases in FVC and FEV 1 were significantly related to increasing years of employment, after adjusting for the effects of age, height, and smoking.…”

Effects of blasting fumes on exposure and short-term lung function changes in tunnel construction workers

“…The other measured exposures that are known to affect lung function are respirable dust, alpha-quartz (37), and oil mist (18,38). The ANFO workers were exposed to higher levels of these three agents when they were compared with the other groups.…”

Effects of occupational exposures and smoking on lung function in tile factory workers

“…Such relations have been detected at average silica exposure levels of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/m 3 . In a cross-sectional study of a population sample of middle-aged Norwegian men, silica exposure for more than 15 years was associated with an average loss of FEV1 of 4.3 ml/year (95% CI 1.1 to 7.5) (Humerfelt et al 1998). Thus, our results are consistent also with Wndings related to silica exposure in other types of industries.…”