Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1993 May;50(5):432–442. doi: 10.1136/oem.50.5.432

Occupational exposure to dust and lung disease among sheet metal workers.

K L Hunting 1, L S Welch 1
PMCID: PMC1012162  PMID: 8507596

Abstract

A previous large medical survey of active and retired sheet metal workers with 20 or more years in the trade indicated an unexpectedly high prevalence of obstructive pulmonary disease among both smokers and non-smokers. This study utilised interviews with a cross section of the previously surveyed group to explore occupational risk factors for lung disease. Four hundred and seven workers were selected from the previously surveyed group on the basis of their potential for exposure to fibreglass and asbestos. Selection was independent of health state, and excluded welders. A detailed history of occupational exposure was obtained by telephone interview for 333 of these workers. Exposure data were analysed in relation to previously collected data on chronic bronchitis, obstructive lung disease, and personal characteristics. Assessment of the effects of exposure to fibreglass as distinct from the effects of exposure to asbestos has been difficult in previous studies of construction workers. The experienced workers studied here have performed a diversity of jobs involving exposure to many different types of materials, and this enabled exposure to each dust to be evaluated separately. The risk of chronic bronchitis increased sharply by pack-years of cigarettes smoked; current smokers had a double risk compared with those who had never smoked or had stopped smoking. The occurrence of chronic bronchitis also increased with increasing duration of exposure to asbestos. Workers with a history of high intensity exposure to fibreglass had a more than doubled risk of chronic bronchitis. Obstructive lung disease, defined by results of pulmonary function tests at the medical survey, was also related to both smoking and occupational risk factors. Number of pack years smoked was the strongest predictor of obstructive lung disease. Duration of direct and indirect exposure to welding fume was also a positive predictor of obstructive lung disease. Duration of exposure to asbestos was significantly associated with obstructive lung disease but the dose-response relation was inconsistent, especially for those with higher pack-years of smoking exposure. Exposure to fibreglass was not a risk factor for obstructive lung disease.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

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

  1. Balzer J. L., Cooper W. C. The work environment of insulating workers. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1968 May-Jun;29(3):222–227. doi: 10.1080/00028896809342992. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brolin I. Pattern recognition and radiologico-pathological correlations. Eur J Respir Dis. 1981 Feb;62(1):1–2. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bégin R., Cantin A., Berthiaume Y., Boileau R., Péloquin S., Massé S. Airway function in lifetime-nonsmoking older asbestos workers. Am J Med. 1983 Oct;75(4):631–638. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(83)90449-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bégin R., Massé S., Bureau M. A. Morphologic features and function of the airways in early asbestosis in the sheep model. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1982 Nov;126(5):870–876. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1982.126.5.870. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bégin R., Massé S., Sébastien P., Bossé J., Rola-Pleszczynski M., Boctor M., Côté Y., Fabi D., Dalle D. Asbestos exposure and retention as determinants of airway disease and asbestos alveolitis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986 Dec;134(6):1176–1181. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1986.134.5.1176. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Copes R., Thomas D., Becklake M. R. Temporal patterns of exposure and nonmalignant pulmonary abnormality in Quebec chrysotile workers. Arch Environ Health. 1985 Mar-Apr;40(2):80–87. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1985.10545894. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Crapo R. O., Morris A. H., Gardner R. M. Reference spirometric values using techniques and equipment that meet ATS recommendations. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981 Jun;123(6):659–664. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1981.123.6.659. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Eisen E. A., Robins J. M., Greaves I. A., Wegman D. H. Selection effects of repeatability criteria applied to lung spirometry. Am J Epidemiol. 1984 Nov;120(5):734–742. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113941. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Engholm G., Englund A., Fletcher A. C., Hallin N. Respiratory cancer incidence in Swedish construction workers exposed to man-made mineral fibres and asbestos. Ann Occup Hyg. 1987;31(4B):663–675. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/31.4b.663. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Engholm G., von Schmalensee G. Bronchitis and exposure to man-made mineral fibres in non-smoking construction workers. Eur J Respir Dis Suppl. 1982;118:73–78. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Esmen N. A., Sheehan M. J., Corn M., Engel M., Kotsko N. Exposure of employees to manmade vitreous fibers: installation of insulation materials. Environ Res. 1982 Aug;28(2):386–398. doi: 10.1016/0013-9351(82)90137-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Esmen N., Corn M., Hammad Y., Whittier D., Kotsko N. Summary of measurements of employee exposure to airborne dust and fiber in sixteen facilities producing man-made mineral fibers. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1979 Feb;40(2):108–117. doi: 10.1080/15298667991429408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Fowler D. P., Balzer J. L., Cooper W. C. Exposure of insulation workers to airborne fibrous glass. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1971 Feb;32(2):86–91. doi: 10.1080/0002889718506415. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hjortsberg U., Orbaek P., Aborelius M., Jr, Ranstam J., Welinder H. Railroad workers with pleural plaques: I. Spirometric and nitrogen washout investigation on smoking and nonsmoking asbestos-exposed workers. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(6):635–641. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140602. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hjortsberg U., Orbaek P., Aborelius M., Jr, Ranstam J., Welinder H. Railroad workers with pleural plaques: II. Small airway dysfunction among asbestos-exposed workers. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(6):643–647. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140603. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kilburn K. H., Warshaw R. H. Difficulties of attribution of effect in workers exposed to fiberglass and asbestos. Am J Ind Med. 1991;20(6):745–751. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700200605. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Maggioni A., Meregalli G., Sala C., Riva M. Patologia respiratoria e cutanea negli addetti alla produzione di fibre di vetro (filato). Med Lav. 1980 May-Jun;71(3):216–227. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Mohsenifar Z., Jasper A. J., Mahrer T., Koerner S. K. Asbestos and airflow limitation. J Occup Med. 1986 Sep;28(9):817–820. doi: 10.1097/00043764-198609000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Moulin J. J., Wild P., Mur J. M., Caillard J. F., Massin N., Meyer-Bisch C., Toamain J. P., Hanser P., Liet S., Du Roscoat M. N. Respiratory health assessment by questionnaire of 2024 workers involved in man-made mineral fiber production. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1988;61(3):171–178. doi: 10.1007/BF00381015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Oliver L. C., Eisen E. A., Greene R., Sprince N. L. Asbestos-related pleural plaques and lung function. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(6):649–656. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140604. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Rodriguez-Roisin R., Merchant J. E., Cochrane G. M., Hickey B. P., Turner-Warwick M., Clark T. J. Maximal expiratory flow volume curves in workers exposed to asbestos. Respiration. 1980;39(3):158–165. doi: 10.1159/000194211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Sandén A., Järvholm B. Pleural plaques, respiratory symptoms and respiratory function in shipyard workers exposed to man-made mineral fibres. J Soc Occup Med. 1986 Autumn;36(3):86–89. doi: 10.1093/occmed/36.3.86. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sixt R., Bake B., Abrahamsson G., Thiringer G. Lung function of sheet metal workers exposed to fiber glass. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983 Feb;9(1):9–14. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Soter N. A., Wasserman S. I., Austen K. F. Cold urticaria: release into the circulation of histamine and eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis during cold challenge. N Engl J Med. 1976 Mar 25;294(13):687–690. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197603252941302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Welch L. S., Michaels D., Zoloth S. Asbestos-related disease among sheet-metal workers. Preliminary results of the National Sheet Metal Worker Asbestos Disease Screening Program. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991 Dec 31;643:287–295. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb24474.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Wright J. L., Churg A. Severe diffuse small airways abnormalities in long term chrysotile asbestos miners. Br J Ind Med. 1985 Aug;42(8):556–559. doi: 10.1136/oem.42.8.556. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES