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Risk factors for respiratory work disability in a cohort of pulp mill workers exposed to irritant gases.
- Source :
-
BMC public health [BMC Public Health] 2011 Sep 06; Vol. 11, pp. 689. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Sep 06. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background: The association between chronic respiratory diseases and work disability has been demonstrated a number of times over the past 20 years, but still little is known about work disability in occupational cohorts of workers exposed to respiratory irritants. This study investigated job or task changes due to respiratory problems as an indicator of work disability in pulp mill workers occupationally exposed to irritants.<br />Methods: Data about respiratory symptoms and disease diagnoses, socio-demographic variables, occupational exposures, gassing episodes, and reported work changes due to respiratory problems were collected using a questionnaire answered by 3226 pulp mill workers. Information about work history and departments was obtained from personnel files. Incidence and hazard ratios for respiratory work disability were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI).<br />Results: The incidence of respiratory work disability among these pulp mill workers was 1.6/1000 person-years. The hazard ratios for respiratory work disability were increased for workers reporting gassings (HR 5.3, 95% CI 2.7-10.5) and for those reporting physician-diagnosed asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic rhinitis, when analyzed in the same model.<br />Conclusions: This cohort study of pulp mill workers found that irritant peak exposure during gassing episodes was a strong predictor of changing work due to respiratory problems, even after adjustment for asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic rhinitis.
- Subjects :
- Aged
Cohort Studies
Extraction and Processing Industry
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases epidemiology
Paper
Respiration Disorders epidemiology
Risk Factors
Sweden epidemiology
Wood
Air Pollutants, Occupational toxicity
Disabled Persons statistics & numerical data
Gases toxicity
Irritants toxicity
Occupational Diseases chemically induced
Occupational Exposure adverse effects
Respiration Disorders chemically induced
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1471-2458
- Volume :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC public health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21896193
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-689