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Background Construction boilermakers may be exposed to a variety of substances, including asbestos and welding fumes. Past studies of boilermakers have shown increases in mortality from lung cancer and asbestosis and radiographic changes consistent with asbestos exposure. Methods Respiratory symptoms, lung function, and radiographic changes were compared for 102 actively employed boilermakers with 20 or more years of union membership and 100 telephone workers. Posteroanterior chest radiographs were evaluated by two experienced chest physicians, with a third arbitrating disagreed films. Union members were further categorized as boilermakers (n = 50) or welders (n = 52), based on longest service. Lung health was also compared with employment in a number of work sectors for time, and time-weighted exposure to dust and fumes. Results Boilermakers had more respiratory symptoms than telephone workers, but lung function did not differ. Radiographic changes were more common among the boilermakers (20% with any change, 8% circumscribed, and 9% diffuse pleural thickening). None of the boilermakers had small radiographic opacities. Several symptoms suggestive of bronchial responsiveness were associated with fume exposures in the gas and oil industry. Workers whose longest service was as a boilermaker demonstrated more symptoms than did welders. FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25–75, and FEF50 were significantly lower among boilermakers compared with welders. Conclusion Health screening programs for these workers are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:381–386, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Contexte : La fumee de bois est associee a divers symptomes d'atteinte de l'appareil respiratoire. Nous avons etudie la prevalence des symptomes respiratoires et les effets sur la sante de l'exposition a la fumee de bois (provenant du chauffage domestique, du fumage des viandes et di tannage des peaux) chez les residants de Deline (Territoires du Nord-Ouest). Methode : Sondage aupres de tous les residants et examen des liens entre la fumee de bois et les symptomes respiratoires. Resultats : Le taux de reponse etait de 70,2 % (n=402). Soixante-et-onze p. cent des personnes de 18 ans et plus etaient des fumeurs actuels. La prevalence des symptomes etait superieure chez les femmes (rapports de cotes [RC] de 1,3-3,1). Les fumeuses etaient aussi plus susceptibles d'etre exposees a la fumee provenant du fumage et du tannage a l'interieur des habitations. Les RC des symptomes respiratoires etaient superieurs chez les femmes, augmentaient avec l'âge et etaient tres influences par le tabagisme. Chez les femmes de 18 ans et plus, la mucosite les matins d'hiver (6,5 [IC de 95 % = 2,3-18,1]), la dyspnee (5,1 [IC de 95 % = 1,9-13,2]) et le larmoiement ou les yeux qui piquent (3,6 [IC de 95 % = 1,4-9,0]) presentaient des liens significatifs avec la fumee de bois a l'exterieur et le fumage declares par les interessees. Le chauffage domestique presentait un lien marginal avec la respiration sifflante. Aucune association significative n'a ete constatee chez les hommes. Conclusions : La prevalence des symptomes respiratoires etait plus elevee chez les femmes qui s'adonnaient au fumage ou au tannage. L'importance culturelle de ces activites ecarte la possibil qu'elles soient abandonnees, mais le renoncement au tabac, la reduction des durees d'expositior la fumee de bois et la modification des methodes de fumage et de tannage pourraient reduire le risque d'effets indesirables sur la sante.

Workers exposed to a variety of wood dusts have been shown to exhibit occupational asthma, lung function deficits, and elevated levels of respiratory symptoms. Despite the popularity of pine and spruce, the health effects of exposures to these woods have not been extensively investigated. A study was undertaken to investigate the respiratory health of a group of sawmill workers processing pine and spruce (n = 94). Data collection included a respiratory symptom questionnaire, spirometry, and allergy skin testing. The sawmill workers were compared with a group of oil field workers from the same geographic area who underwent the same study protocol (n = 165). The results showed that the sawmill workers had significantly lower average values for FEV1 and FEV1/FVC (%), adjusted for age, height, and smoking. The largest differences were for current smokers. Significantly elevated age and smoking-adjusted odds ratios (OR) were detected for shortness of breath (2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47 to 5.46) and wheeze with chest tightness (2.58; 95% CI, 1.18 to 5.62). Nonsignificant elevations were also seen for usual cough (1.47; 95% CI, 0.68 to 3.16), usual phlegm (1.94; 95% CI, 0.98 to 3.87), shortness of breath with exercise (1.45; 95% CI, 0.66 to 3.20), chest tightness (1.43; 95% CI, 0.80 to 2.57), and attacks of wheeze (1.70; 95% CI, 0.79 to 3.68). Sawmill workers were 2.5 times as likely as oil field workers to report current asthma (95% CI, 0.76 to 8.32). Workers employed more than 3 years showed significantly more asthma (OR = 3.67; 95% CI, 1.00 to 13.5) and bronchitis (OR = 2.14; 95% CI, 1.02 to 4.52). Sawmill workers were only 43% as likely to report a history of hay fever (95% CI, 0.20 to 0.94). These health effects were noted despite an average concentration of respirable dust of 1.35 mg/m3 (range, 0.1 to 2.2 mg/m3). These levels are below the present occupational standard.