Workplace air quality and lung function among dental laboratory technicians

Hu, Sung-Yuan; Lin, Yung‐Ya; Wu, Tzu‐Chin; Hong, Chun-Cheng; Chan, Chang-Chuan; Lung, Shih-Chun Candice

doi:10.1002/ajim.20249

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(23 reference statements)

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“…In two other studies on dental technicians, it was reported that that there were restrictive pulmonary disorders in 22.4% and 33.3% of participants (17,25). In another two studies, it was reported that there was a decrease in FVC and FEV 1 levels and that longer working durations led to worse PFT values (26,27).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory Systems of Dental Technicians Negatively Affected during 5 Years of Follow-Up

Bozkurt¹,

Yurdasal²,

Bozkurt³

et al. 2016

Balkan Med J

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Background: Dental laboratory technician is one of the professions in which dust exposure is frequently experienced and therefore the health of workers has to be monitored. Aims: In this study, changes in the pulmonary functions and of pneumoconiosis frequencies among dental technicians after five years were investigated by comparing the results of two screenings carried out in 2008 and 2013. Study Design: Cohort study. Methods: In 2008 and 2013, Provincial Health Directorate carried out two different health screenings covering all of the dental technicians working in dental laboratories in Denizli. In both screenings, a questionnaire was applied, with which socio-demographic and workplace properties of the technicians were obtained. In addition, Pulmonary function tests (PFT) and standard chest X-rays of the technicians were performed. The results of these two screenings were evaluated by a chest specialist, and physical examinations were performed as necessary. In 2013, technicians who had pathologies underwent computerized tomography (HRCT). In this study, the study group was composed of dental laboratory technicians that participated in both screenings (2008 and 2013) and the data obtained from the screenings were compared. The gathered data were analyzed using paired student-t and X 2 tests. Results: A total of 125 dental laboratory technicians participated in the two screenings. Overall, 92% of the technicians were male and the mean age of the participants was 35. Technicians were working for 9 hours a day, 6 days a week. Total exposure time was calculated to be around 41 thousand hours. Approximately 60% of workers were smokers. When the results of PFT were analyzed, 73% of the first evaluations were found to be normal; however, this ratio decreased to 51% in the second analysis five years later. In the second PFT measurement, compared to the first, there was a 23% decrease in the forced vital capacity (FVC) value, and a 15.7% decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ). While restrictive disorder was found 25% in the first PFT evaluations, this ratio increased to 31% in the second PFT. When the radiological results were considered, 62% of the first X-ray results were found to be normal but this ratio decreased to 18% in 2013. While reticular/reticulonodular opacities were found in 11% of cases in 2008, it increased to 30% in 2013. Seven technicians were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (5.6%). Conclusion: Respiratory tracts of the technicians were negatively affected during the five year period. The number of pneumoconiosis cases (5.6%) shows that it is necessary to adopt comprehensive work health and safety precautions for laboratories.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory Systems of Dental Technicians Negatively Affected during 5 Years of Follow-Up

Bozkurt¹,

Yurdasal²,

Bozkurt³

et al. 2016

Balkan Med J

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“…The data related to airway interactions in the dental technicians are controversial. Woan et al conducted a study on 11 dental technicians in Taiwan whom they studied for more than 10 years, and they found a small decrease in FVC and FEV 1 when compared with the control group, which is statistically not important [1]. Choudat et al performed a study in which they examined respiratory symptoms and lung functions on 105 dental technicians living in Paris [1,2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies in the literature demonstrate potential hazards for dental technicians related to their working conditions [1][2][3][4][5][6][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Most of the studies have related to the determination of the prevalence of pneumoconiosis such as our first cross-sectional epidemiologic study [6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A longitudinal study on lung disease in dental technicians: What has changed after seven years?

Doğan¹,

Berk²,

Gümüş³

et al. 2013

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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Objectives: The aim of this 7-year follow-up study was to determine respiratory changes in dental technicians. Material and Methods: In our region, in the year 2005, 36 dental technicians were evaluated with a cross-sectional study on respiratory occupational diseases, and in 2012 we evaluated them again. Inclusion of information on respiratory symptoms and demographic features questionnaires was applied. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed. Chest X-rays (CXR) were evaluated according to the ILO-2000 classification. For the comparisons of the technicians' findings in 2005 and 2012, data analyses were performed with the Wilcoxon test in addition to descriptive statistical procedures. Results: In 2012, 19 out of the 36 technicians continued to work in the same place, so we were able to evaluate their findings. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms in dental technician was as follows: dyspnea 7 (37%), cough 6 (32%), and phlegm 5 (26%). According to ILO classifications in 2005, among the 36 technicians, 5 (13.8%) had pneumoconiosis. At the end of 7 years, there were 9 pneumoconiosis cases among the 19 remaining technicians (47%). Thus, there was a statistically significant progression on the profusion of the radiologic findings (p < 0.005). Also there was a significant worsening on spirometric findings (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In dental technicians, a determination of both radiologic and functional progressions at the end of 7 years demonstrate that the primary and secondary preventive measures are necessary for these workplaces. Workplaces must be regularly controlled for worker health and hygiene.

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“…Again this is thought to be related to dust inhalation (Sherson et al, 1988;Choudat et al, 1993;Jacobsen and Pettersen 1993;Selden et al, 1995;Jacobsen et al, 1996;Kim et al, 2002;Radi et al, 2002;Hu et al, 2006). Lung biopsies of dental technicians have found fibrosis, dust accumulations, inorganic material and very high concentrations of fibres within the sampled tissue (Tuengerthal et al, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particulate production during orthodontic production laboratory procedures

Ireland

Wilson

Blythe

et al. 2011

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Dental technicians are exposed to respirable particles during their everyday work. This study investigated particulate production during dental laboratory procedures. Real-time air sampling of dental laboratory production processes was carried out, including the use of a plaster hopper, trimming study models and the trimming and polishing of removable orthodontic appliances. Respirable dust volumes in mg/m 3 were determined using real-time air sampler and were compared with the Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) advised by the Control of Substances Harmful to Health regulations. The use of the plaster hopper produced the highest level of respirable dusts, which might exceed the recommended WELs for respirable dusts. Trimming study models and removable orthodontic appliances using suitable ventilation produced levels of respirable dusts, well below the WEL. Suitable ventilation adjacent to the plaster hoppers is advisable in order to reduce any inhalation risk to dental technicians.

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Workplace air quality and lung function among dental laboratory technicians

Abstract: Workplace PM2.5 was associated with a non-significant decrease in lung function of dental technicians.

Cited by 25 publications

References 21 publications

Respiratory Systems of Dental Technicians Negatively Affected during 5 Years of Follow-Up

Respiratory Systems of Dental Technicians Negatively Affected during 5 Years of Follow-Up

A longitudinal study on lung disease in dental technicians: What has changed after seven years?

Particulate production during orthodontic production laboratory procedures

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