Last data update: Sep 16, 2024. (Total: 47680 publications since 2009)
Records 1-2 (of 2 Records) |
Query Trace: Kim TJ [original query] |
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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. |
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. |
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