Glass fibres: absence of pulmonary hazard in production workers

Hill, J. W.; Whitehead, W.S.; Cameron, J. D.; Hedgecock, G. A.

doi:10.1136/oem.30.2.174

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The average number of respirable fibers was 0.9 fibersրcm 3 (32). A more recent cross-sectional morbidity study of seven glass fiber and mineral wool plants did not demonstrate any abnormalities related to pulmonary symptoms or spirometry results and MMVF manufacturing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Longitudinal Estimates of Pulmonary Function in Refractory Ceramic Fiber Manufacturing Workers

Lockey

Levin²,

LeMasters³

et al. 1998

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

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Refractory ceramic fibers (RCF) are man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) used in high-temperature industrial applications. Between 1987 and 1994, a prospective study evaluated pulmonary function of 361 male workers currently employed in RCF manufacturing and related operations for plausibility of a causal relationship between RCF exposure and pulmonary function changes. Workers included in the analysis provided at least five pulmonary function tests. The exposure-response relationship was modeled with two exposure variables: years in a production job, and cumulative fiber exposure (fiber-mo/cc). Comparison groups were nonproduction workers and workers with up to 15 fiber-mo/cc cumulative exposure. A statistically significant decrease in FVC was demonstrated among workers employed in production jobs more than 7 yr prior to initial test. A similar but nonstatistically significant result was demonstrated for FVC in workers with greater than 60 fiber-mo/cc cumulative exposure prior to initial pulmonary function test. Similar but nonstatistically significant results were obtained for FEV1. These findings, which primarily reflect workers employed before 1980, did not persist with analysis of follow-up production years and accumulated RCF exposure from initial pulmonary function test. Since longitudinal analyses are sensitive to influences that continue to affect annual decline during the study period, lower RCF exposure levels since the 1980s may be responsible for eliminating any further effect on pulmonary function.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Longitudinal Estimates of Pulmonary Function in Refractory Ceramic Fiber Manufacturing Workers

Lockey

Levin²,

LeMasters³

et al. 1998

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

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show abstract

“…Seven of the studies (3,10,13,14,(16)(17)(24)(25)29), three of which (16-17, 24, 29) were carried out a few years apart at one plant in the United States, report negative results. The majority of the workers examined had been employed for 10-20 a in the man-made vitreous fiber industry.…”

Section: Chronic Respiratory Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Man-made vitreous fibers and workers' health. An overview of the epidemiologic evidence.

Saracci¹,

Simonato²

1982

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…These cells had no influence on adjacent alveolar walls and no new collagen was laid down in them. No radiological or pathological change has yet been found in the lungs of people heavily exposed to fibreglass dust (Hill et al, 1973;American College of Physicians, 1976). Michaels (1967) has seen bodies similar to blue bodies in the lungs of woodworkers.…”

Section: T Gardiner and J S Uftmentioning

confidence: 99%

"Blue bodies" in a case of cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (desquamative type) an ultra-structural study.

Gardiner¹,

Uff²

1978

Thorax

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Gardiner, I T, and Uff, J S (1978). Thorax, 33,[806][807][808][809][810][811][812][813]. "Blue bodies" in a case of cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (desquamative type)-an ultra-structural study. A patient with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, with both mural and desquamative features, had two lung biopsies at the times of coronary artery surgery. These lung specimens were studied, using light and electron microscopy, with immunofluorescence techniques and electron microanalysis. In addition to the typical changes of cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis previously reported, we found "blue-staining bodies" within alveolar macrophages and giant cells. These bodies were 15-25 ,um in diameter with an iron rich outer rim and core of connective tissue mucin-possibly chondroitin sulphate or dermatan sulphate. It seems unlikely that these "blue bodies" were due to fibreglass dust to which the patient had had a trivial exposure, but their exact nature and significance remains unclear.Since Liebow et al (1965) first described desquamative interstitial pneumonitis, there have been several studies reporting the ultra-structural characteristics of both biopsy and necropsy specimens (Brewer et a!, 1969;Shortland et al, 1969;Farr et al, 1970;Patchefsky et al, 1971). While these authors have described in detail many features of the intra-alveolar cells, including intranuclear inclusion bodies, there have been no previous reports of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies ("blue bodies"). Case historyA 55-year-old man was referred to hospital in 1974 for coronary artery surgery. He had a sixmonth history of exertional dyspnoea but no cough or sputum, despite having smoked 15 cigarettes a day for 35 years. He had worked as a bus driver for most of his life, turning to clerical work only when disabled by angina. As a clerk he had trivial and infrequent exposure to fibreglass and resin dust. For about 20 minutes each working day over a three-year-period he walked through workshops where mock-ups of aircraft components were being manufactured from fibreglass. The atmosphere in these rooms was not obviously dusty, and extractor fans were in constant use. The materials used were epoxy resin, polyester resin, and amine hardeners.Inquiry at the plant did not show any respiratory effects from these materials in other workers. The patient had no exposure to fungi or pet birds; avian and fungal precipitins and rheumatoid factor were not found in the patient's serum. His chest radiograph had previously been regarded as normal, but a review of his films since 1970 showed a fine granular appearance in the lower zones. This appearance has remained unchanged. Because of some suspicion of lung abnormality, a wedge biopsy of the right upper lobe was performed at the time of his first coronary artery graft early in 1974. On the results of this biopsy, he was given an eight-week course of prednisolone without objective improvement in his condition. This treatment was curtailed by the need for further coronary artery surgery, which was unsuccessful, and a th...

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Glass fibres: absence of pulmonary hazard in production workers

Cited by 13 publications

References 5 publications

Longitudinal Estimates of Pulmonary Function in Refractory Ceramic Fiber Manufacturing Workers

Longitudinal Estimates of Pulmonary Function in Refractory Ceramic Fiber Manufacturing Workers

Man-made vitreous fibers and workers' health. An overview of the epidemiologic evidence.

"Blue bodies" in a case of cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (desquamative type) an ultra-structural study.

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