Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1984 Feb;41(1):109–115. doi: 10.1136/oem.41.1.109

Pulmonary effects of exposures in silicon carbide manufacturing.

J M Peters, T J Smith, L Bernstein, W E Wright, S K Hammond
PMCID: PMC1009244  PMID: 6691928

Abstract

Chest x rays, smoking histories, and pulmonary function tests were obtained for 171 men employed in the manufacturing of silicon carbide. A lifetime exposure to respirable particulates (organic and inorganic fractions) and sulphur dioxide was estimated for each worker. Chest x ray abnormalities were related to respirable particulates (round opacities) and to age and smoking (linear opacities). Pulmonary function was affected by respirable particulates (FVC) and by sulphur dioxide and smoking (FEV1). Pleural thickening was related to age. No exposures exceeded the relevant standards; we therefore conclude that the current standards do not provide protection against injurious pulmonary effects, at least in this industry.

Full text

PDF
109

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ANDERSON A. Possible long term effect of exposure to sulphur dioxide. Br J Ind Med. 1950 Apr;7(2):82–86. doi: 10.1136/oem.7.2.82. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Andersen I. B., Lundqvist G. R., Jensen P. L., Proctor D. F. Human response to controlled levels of sulfur dioxide. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Jan;28(1):31–39. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666429. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Federspiel C. F., Layne J. T., Auer C., Bruce J. Lung function among employees of a copper mine smelter: lack of effect of chronic sulfur dioxide exposure. J Occup Med. 1980 Jul;22(7):438–444. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Graham W. G., O'Grady R. V., Dubuc B. Pulmonary function loss in Vermont granite workers. A long-term follow-up and critical reappraisal. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981 Jan;123(1):25–28. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1981.123.1.25. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Knudson R. J., Slatin R. C., Lebowitz M. D., Burrows B. The maximal expiratory flow-volume curve. Normal standards, variability, and effects of age. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1976 May;113(5):587–600. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1976.113.5.587. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Lawther P. J., Macfarlane A. J., Waller R. E., Brooks A. G. Pulmonary function and sulphur dioxide, some preliminary findings. Environ Res. 1975 Dec;10(3):355–367. doi: 10.1016/0013-9351(75)90031-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Lebowitz M. D., Burton A., Kaltenborn W. Pulmonary function in smelter workers. J Occup Med. 1979 Apr;21(4):255–259. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. McJilton C., Frank R., Charlson R. Role of relative humidity in the synergistic effect of a sulfur dioxide-aerosol mixture on the lung. Science. 1973 Nov 2;182(4111):503–504. doi: 10.1126/science.182.4111.503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Mittman C., Pedersen E., Barbela T., Lewis H. Prediction and potential prevention of industrial bronchitis. An epidemiologic study of a group of coke oven workers. Am J Med. 1974 Aug;57(2):192–199. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(74)90443-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Musk A. W., Peters J. M., Wegman D. H., Fine L. J. Pulmonary function in granite dust exposure: a four-year follow-up. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1977 May;115(5):769–776. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1977.115.5.769. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. SKALPE I. O. LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE EXPOSURE IN PULP MILLS. Br J Ind Med. 1964 Jan;21:69–73. doi: 10.1136/oem.21.1.69. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Smith T. J., Hammond S. K., Laidlaw F., Fine S. Respiratory exposures associated with silicon carbide production: estimation of cumulative exposures for an epidemiological study. Br J Ind Med. 1984 Feb;41(1):100–108. doi: 10.1136/oem.41.1.100. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Smith T. J., Peters J. M., Reading J. C., Castle C. H. Pulmonary impairment from chronic exposure to sulfur dioxide in a smelter. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1977 Jul;116(1):31–39. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1977.116.1.31. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Smith T. J., Wagner W. L., Moore D. E. Chronic sulfur dioxide exposure in a smelter. I. Exposure to SO2 and dust: 1940-1974. J Occup Med. 1978 Feb;20(2):83–87. doi: 10.1097/00043764-197802000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Theriault G. P., Burgess W. A., DiBerardinis L. J., Peters J. M. Dust exposure in the Vermont granite sheds. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Jan;28(1):12–17. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666425. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Theriault G. P., Peters J. M., Fine L. J. Pulmonary function in granite shed workers of Vermont. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Jan;28(1):18–22. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666426. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Theriault G. P., Peters J. M., Johnson W. M. Pulmonary function and roentgenographic changes in granite dust exposure. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Jan;28(1):23–27. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666427. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Walker D. D., Archibald R. M., Attfield M. D. Bronchitis in men employed in the coke industry. Br J Ind Med. 1971 Oct;28(4):358–363. doi: 10.1136/oem.28.4.358. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wegman D. H., Eisen E. A. Causes of death among employees of a synthetic abrasive product manufacturing company. J Occup Med. 1981 Nov;23(11):748–754. doi: 10.1097/00043764-198111000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Industrial Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES