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Adverse health effects of work-related contact with respirable hazardous substances are of great public interest. Because related prospective and long-term follow-up studies are rare, the extent of acute and chronic pulmonary health risks of occupational exposure to welding fumes is discussed controversially in the scientific literature. The objective of the present longitudinal study during a 9-year period was to investigate the annual changes of lung function in welders. Anthropometric measures and smoking behaviour, and spirometric tests (FVC, FEV1, and MEF50) obtained during routine occupational health checkups of female and male workers (n = 1,982) in Austria during the years 2002–2010 were analyzed. The study participants displayed average lung function values lower than the age- and sex-specific norm. Decrease in respiratory capacity was dependent on smoking habits and duration of occupational exposure. Specifically for welders (n = 1,326), decrease of pulmonary function was significantly associated with heavy smoking (FVC −70.7 ml, p = 0.07; FEV1 −167.4 ml, p

Workers exposed to dust have to undergo medical check-ups every 2 years including lung function testing. Here we report on the routine lung function data (FVC, FEV1, MEF50) of 994 workers from Austria. Lung function data were compared to the Austrian standard values that are based on routine testing of healthy volunteers. For all parameters the workers' values were significantly poorer than the Austrian standards (FVC: – 0.4 l; FEV1: – 0.5 l; MEF50: – 0.9 l/s). The difference from the standard increased with increasing duration of the dust exposure. This increase was significant for the total group for MEF50 even after controlling for smoking. About half of the workers were exposed to quartz dust and had poorer lung function values (p = 0.02 for MEF50) than the other workers. Smoking significantly reduced all 3 lung function parameters with a significant interaction between strong smoking (compared to non-smokers) and quartz exposure (compared to all other exposures). Current Austrian limit values are not protective against chronic damage of the respiratory system. The combined impact of cigarette smoke and high concentration of mineral dust (quartz) is especially dangerous.

Occupational mineral dust exposure is a well-known risk factor for numerous respiratory and systemic diseases. The aim of the present longitudinal study was to assess the influence of work-associated dust exposure on spirometric results. Furthermore, the impact of implementation of stricter limit values for occupational contact with quartz dust on lung function was evaluated. Anthropometric data (age, gender, BMI), smoking behavior, and lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1, MEF50) from 7,204 medical examinations of 3,229 female and male workers during the years 2002–2010 were examined following Austrian standards for occupational medicine and the guidelines of the European Respiratory Society. Analysis of data was performed using models of multiple linear regression. Lung function decrease over time was associated with smoking habits and duration of occupational dust exposure. Specifically, occupational quartz exposure negatively influenced the annual lung function parameters (FVC, −6.68 ml; FEV1, −6.71 ml; and MEF50, −16.15 ml/s, all p

Objectives Occupational mineral dust exposure is a well-known risk factor for numerous respiratory and systemic diseases. Stone work with high quartz exposure in quarries and in consecutive industries is a common situation in Austria. The aim of the present study employing a longitudinal design was to assess the influence of occupational dust exposure on lung function results. Further, the impact of implementation of stricter limit values for work-related contact with Quartz dust on lung function was evaluated. Method Anthropometric data (age, gender, BMI), smoking behaviour, and lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1, MEF50) of 7204 medical examinations of 3229 female and male workers during the years 2002 to 2010 were analysed following Austrian standards for occupational medicine and ERS guidelines. Analysis of data was performed using models of linear regression. Results Lung function parameters decreased with duration of occupational dust exposure and smoking. Occupational quartz exposure negatively influenced lung function parameters (FVC -173.98 ml, FEV1 -127.94 ml, MEF50 -200.44 ml/s; all p Conclusions The decrease of lung function is correlated with individual smoking habits and the duration of occupational dust exposure. Smoking cessation is especially recommended to workers exposed to Quartz dust to reduce the risk of increase of poor lung function. Adaptation of current limit values towards stricter limit values could decrease chronic occupational damage of the respiratory system.