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Prevalence of occupational asthma among workers exposed to eastern white cedar.
- Source :
-
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine [Am J Respir Crit Care Med] 1994 Dec; Vol. 150 (6 Pt 1), pp. 1697-701. - Publication Year :
- 1994
-
Abstract
- We assessed the prevalence of occupational asthma among current (n = 29/31, 94%) and former (n = 13/49, 27%) employees of a sawmill in which eastern white cedar has been made into shingles during the past 3 yr. All participants answered a respiratory questionnaire, and all except one underwent spirometry and methacholine inhalation tests. All those with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (PC20 methacholine < or = 19 mg/ml) were invited to undergo specific inhalation challenges. Mean duration of exposure was 13 mo (19 workers > 12 mo). Twenty-eight workers (65%) reported a history compatible with asthma, and 25 (58%) had symptoms that were suggestive of occupational asthma. Only two subjects had significant airway obstruction (FEV1 < 80% pred) (mean value = 98% pred). Eighteen subjects (42%) had a PC20 < or = 16 mg/ml. Specific inhalation tests with plicatic acid and/or western red cedar (which contains twice as much plicatic acid as eastern white cedar), were done on 12 subjects who had a PC20 < or = 16 mg/ml when they were assessed. Three subjects were considered to have positive tests (one had an isolated immediate reaction, one had a late reaction, and one had significant changes in PC20 each time he was exposed but no changes in FEV1). Environmental monitoring showed concentrations of total dusts above 2 mg/m3 in half of the samples. The prevalence of occupational asthma in this workplace was three of 42 participants (7%) or at least three of 80 (3.8%) of all current or ex-workers. This is comparable to the prevalence of occupational asthma in subjects exposed to western red cedar.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Asthma diagnosis
Asthma etiology
Female
Humans
Male
Occupational Diseases diagnosis
Occupational Diseases etiology
Prevalence
Quebec epidemiology
Respiratory Function Tests statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Asthma epidemiology
Dust adverse effects
Occupational Diseases epidemiology
Wood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1073-449X
- Volume :
- 150
- Issue :
- 6 Pt 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 7952635
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.150.6.7952635