Last data update: May 13, 2024. (Total: 46773 publications since 2009)
Records 1-7 (of 7 Records) |
Query Trace: Enright PL[original query] |
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Exposures and cross-shift lung function declines in wildland firefighters
Gaughan DM , Piacitelli CA , Chen BT , Law BF , Virji MA , Edwards NT , Enright PL , Schwegler-Berry DE , Leonard SS , Wagner GR , Kobzik L , Kales SN , Hughes MD , Christiani DC , Siegel PD , Cox-Ganser JM , Hoover MD . J Occup Environ Hyg 2014 11 (9) 591-603 Respiratory problems are common among wildland firefighters. However, there are few studies directly linking occupational exposures to respiratory effects in this population. Our objective was to characterize wildland fire fighting occupational exposures and assess their associations with cross-shift changes in lung function. We studied 17 members of the Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew with environmental sampling and pulmonary function testing during a large wildfire. We characterized particles by examining size distribution and mass concentration, and conducting elemental and morphological analyses. We examined associations between cross-shift lung function change and various analytes, including levoglucosan, an indicator of wood smoke from burning biomass. The levoglucosan component of the wildfire aerosol showed a predominantly bimodal size distribution: a coarse particle mode with a mass median aerodynamic diameter about 12 mum and a fine particle mode with a mass median aerodynamic diameter < 0.5 mum. Levoglucosan was found mainly in the respirable fraction and its concentration was higher for fire line construction operations than for mop-up operations. Larger cross-shift declines in forced expiratory volume in one second were associated with exposure to higher concentrations of respirable levoglucosan (p < 0.05). Paired analyses of real-time personal air sampling measurements indicated that higher carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were correlated with higher particulate concentrations when examined by mean values, but not by individual data points. However, low CO concentrations did not provide reliable assurance of concomitantly low particulate concentrations. We conclude that inhalation of fine smoke particles is associated with acute lung function decline in some wildland firefighters. Based on short-term findings, it appears important to address possible long-term respiratory health issues for wildland firefighters. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene for the following free supplemental resources: a file containing additional information on historical studies of wildland fire exposures, a file containing the daily-exposure-severity questionnaire completed by wildland firefighter participants at the end of each day, and a file containing additional details of the investigation of correlations between carbon monoxide concentrations and other measured exposure factors in the current study.]. |
Longitudinal lung function declines among California flavoring manufacturing workers
Kreiss K , Fedan KB , Nasrullah M , Kim TJ , Materna BL , Prudhomme JC , Enright PL . Am J Ind Med 2011 55 (8) 657-68 BACKGROUND: The California Department of Public Health received serial spirometry data for flavoring manufacturing workers at 20 companies at risk of bronchiolitis obliterans. METHODS: We graded spirometry quality; identified individual workers with excessive decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1) ) using relative longitudinal limits of decline based on 4% average within-person variability; and analyzed declines by occupational risk factors. RESULTS: The quality of 1,697 spirometry tests from 725 workers varied by 18 providers, with poorer quality from commercial providers. Of 416 workers with at least two tests, 40 (9.6%) had abnormal FEV(1) decline. Of 289 workers with high quality spirometry, 21 (7.3%) had abnormal decline. Only one of the 21 had airways obstruction. Abnormal FEV(1) decline rates (per person-month) were greater among workers at companies using ≥800 lbs/year diacetyl than at companies using lesser amounts. Abnormal FEV(1) decline rates were greater at companies previously having four-person clusters of spirometric obstruction than at companies with no or only one worker with obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Spirometric surveillance of flavoring workers can identify individual workers with an abnormal FEV(1) decline for preventive intervention, even when the FEV(1) itself remains within the normal range. Good quality spirometry and classification of abnormal with relative longitudinal limit of decline minimize misclassification of possible work-related health effects. Am. J. Ind. Med. (c) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
Evaluation of methods to determine excessive decline of forced expiratory volume in one second in workers exposed to diacetyl-containing flavorings
Chaisson NF , Kreiss K , Hnizdo E , Hakobyan A , Enright PL . J Occup Environ Med 2010 52 (11) 1119-23 OBJECTIVE: To evaluate methods for determining excessive short-term decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in diacetyl-exposed workers. METHODS: We evaluated five methods of determining excessive longitudinal FEV1 decline in diacetyl-exposed workers and workers from a comparative cohort: American Thoracic Society (ATS), ACOEM an 8% limit, and a relative and absolute longitudinal limit on the basis of spirometry data variability. Relative risk and incidence of excess decline were evaluated. RESULTS: Incidence of excessive FEV1 decline was 1% in the comparative cohort using ATS and ACOEM criteria, 4.1% using relative limit of longitudinal decline, 4.4% with absolute longitudinal limit of decline, and 5.6% by using the 8% limit. Relative risk of abnormal FEV1 decline in diacetyl-exposed workers was elevated in all evaluated methods. CONCLUSION: Alternative methods for respiratory surveillance in diacetyl-exposed workers may be preferable to ATS or ACOEM. |
Industry-wide medical surveillance of California flavor manufacturing workers: cross-sectional results
Kim TJ , Materna BL , Prudhomme JC , Fedan KB , Enright PL , Sahakian NM , Windham GC , Kreiss K . Am J Ind Med 2010 53 (9) 857-65 BACKGROUND: Two cases of bronchiolitis obliterans in flavor manufacturing workers prompted California health and labor agencies to initiate industry-wide surveillance. METHODS: Companies' physicians submitted cross-sectional questionnaire and spirometry data for 467 workers in 16 workplaces. We compared prevalence ratios of respiratory symptoms, diagnoses, and abnormal spirometry to a general population sample. We calculated odds ratios for risk factors for spirometric obstructive abnormality. RESULTS: Flavoring workers were 2.7 times more likely than the general population to have severe airways obstruction. Risk factors identified for 18 cases with obstruction from six companies included younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, liquid and powder production work, greater company diacetyl usage, and having a coworker with obstruction. Severity of obstruction was related to tenure. At least 12 workers had probable occupational fixed airways obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The flavoring industry risk of severe lung disease justifies lowering flavoring exposures and medical screening for secondary prevention until worker safety is demonstrated. |
Four-year calibration stability of the EasyOne portable spirometer
Skloot GS , Edwards NT , Enright PL . Respir Care 2010 55 (7) 873-7 BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines recommend daily spirometer calibration checks and weekly linearity checks. The long-term stability of the volume and flow accuracy of a specific model of spirometer should be carefully characterized before modification of the frequency of calibration checks is considered for that model of spirometer. METHODS: The EasyOne ultrasonic flow-sensing spirometer was chosen for use by the clinical centers at the 2002 inception of the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program. The screening program quality-control procedure required that the expiratory and inspiratory volume accuracy of each spirometer be checked every day of testing, and the flow accuracy (linearity) checked every week. The calibration check results were transferred to a central database for summary. RESULTS: Over 5,000 calibration-check results (4,109 single-speed and 1,189 three-speed) were accumulated from a total of 34 spirometers during the period February 2003 through March 2007. The mean single-speed calibration errors (and 5th-95th percentiles) were -2 mL (-80 to 70 mL) for exhalation and -10 mL (-80 to 60 mL) for inhalation. 98% of the exhalation and 97% of the inhalation calibration checks were accurate within 3.0%. There was no evidence of significant non-linearity according to the results of the 3-speed calibration checks (mean errors of -3, -5, and -6 mL at each speed). CONCLUSIONS: The EasyOne retained inhalation and exhalation volume accuracy of better than 3% for at least 4 years. Routine multiple-speed volume calibration checks may not be necessary with the EasyOne. The acceptability and repeatability of patient efforts should be the primary focus of quality-assurance programs with spirometers that have been demonstrated to remain accurate for long periods. |
Quality of spirometry performed by 13,599 participants in the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program
Enright PL , Skloot GS , Cox-Ganser JM , Udasin IG , Herbert R . Respir Care 2010 55 (3) 303-9 OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of spirometry technicians in the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program to meet American Thoracic Society spirometry quality goals. METHODS: Spirometry technicians were trained centrally and performed spirometry sessions at 6 sites in the greater New York City area. We reviewed and graded the spirometry results for quality every month. RESULTS: About 80% (range 70-88%) of the spirometry sessions met the American Thoracic Society spirometry goals. In general, the spirometry technicians with the most experience were more successful in meeting the quality goals. Participant characteristics explained very little of the quality variability. CONCLUSIONS: The overall spirometry quality in this multicenter program was very good. Efforts to improve spirometry quality should focus on the performance of individual spirometry technicians. |
Performance of maximum inspiratory pressure tests and maximum inspiratory pressure reference equations for 4 race/ethnic groups
Sachs MC , Enright PL , Hinckley Stukovsky KD , Jiang R , Barr RG , Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Lung Study . Respir Care 2009 54 (10) 1321-8 BACKGROUND: Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) is an important and noninvasive index of diaphragm strength and an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. The ability of adults over a wide age range and multiple race/ethnicities to perform MIP tests has previously not been evaluated. METHODS: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis recruited white, African American, Hispanic, and Chinese American participants, ages 45-84 years, and free of clinical cardiovascular disease in 6 United States cities. MIP was measured using standard techniques among 3,849 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants. The MIP quality goal was 5 maneuvers, with the 2 largest values matching within 10 cm H2O. Correlates of MIP quality and values were assessed in logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS: The 3,849 participants with MIP measures were 51% female, 35% white, 26% African American, 23% Hispanic, and 16% Chinese American. Mean+/-SD MIP was 73+/-26 cm H2O for women and 97+/-29 cm H2O for men. The quality goal was achieved by 83% of the cohort and was associated with female sex, older age, race/ethnicity, study site, low ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), and wheeze with dyspnea. The multivariate correlates of MIP were male sex, younger age, higher body mass index, shorter height, higher FVC, higher systolic blood pressure (in women) and health status (in men). There were no clinically important race/ethnic differences in MIP values. CONCLUSIONS: Race-specific reference equations for MIP are unnecessary in the United States. More than 80% of adults can be successfully coached for 5 maneuvers, with repeatability within 10 cm H2O. |
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