Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1992 Aug;49(8):576–580. doi: 10.1136/oem.49.8.576

Decline in spirometric variables in grain workers from start of employment: differential effect of duration of follow up.

J E Zejda 1, P Pahwa 1, J A Dosman 1
PMCID: PMC1039291  PMID: 1515349

Abstract

Prospective study of 164 young men from the start of employment in grain elevators showed that of those seen at the initial evaluation of respiratory state only 30% were available for a complete four year follow up. The drop out of subjects could represent a health related selection leading to the underestimation of respiratory effects of exposure to grain dust as assessed in the survivor group. This hypothesis was examined by comparisons of longitudinal changes in lung function in four groups defined by the duration of follow up involving the initial examination and periodic evaluations after one, two, and four years of work. Sixty four men were tested only on the initial examination (group I), 18 underwent two (group II), 31 underwent three (group III), and 51 (group IV) all four examinations. The groups had similar mean ages (range: 19.4-20.1 years), mean duration of previous exposure to grain dust (range: 8-13 weeks), smoking habits, lung function, and prevalences of respiratory symptoms evaluated on the initial occasion. The average decline in lung function over the first year was associated with duration of follow up. The annual decline in FVC (ml) was 58 in group II, 41 in group III and -55 (increase) in group IV; the decline in FEV1 (ml) was 224, 130, and 70 respectively. The differences for the annual declines of FEV1, FEF25-759 Vmax509 and Vmax25 were significant between groups II and IV, and the FEF25-759 Vmax509 and Vmax25 differed significantly between groups II and III. The results show that the restriction of analysis to the survivors may underestimate the relation between work and respiratory impairment.

Full text

PDF
576

Selected References

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

  1. Blainey A. D. Respiratory disease in grainworkers. Respir Med. 1990 Mar;84(2):93–95. doi: 10.1016/s0954-6111(08)80008-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Broder I., Mintz S., Hutcheon M. A., Corey P. N., Kuzyk J. Effect of layoff and rehire on respiratory variables of grain elevator workers. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980 Oct;122(4):601–608. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1980.122.4.601. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chan-Yeung M., Enarson D. A., MacLean L., Irving D. Longitudinal study of workers in an aluminum smelter. Arch Environ Health. 1989 May-Jun;44(3):134–139. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1989.9935876. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Chan-Yeung M., Schulzer M., MacLean L., Dorken E., Grzybowski S. Epidemiologic health survey of grain elevator workers in British Columbia. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980 Feb;121(2):329–338. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1980.121.2.329. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cotton D. J., Graham B. L., Li K. Y., Froh F., Barnett G. D., Dosman J. A. Effects of grain dust exposure and smoking on respiratory symptoms and lung function. J Occup Med. 1983 Feb;25(2):131–141. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. 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]
  7. Dosman J. A., Cotton D. J., Graham B. L., Li K. Y., Froh F., Barnett G. D. Chronic bronchitis and decreased forced expiratory flow rates in lifetime nonsmoking grain workers. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980 Jan;121(1):11–16. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1980.121.1.11. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dosman J. A., McDuffie H. H., Pahwa P. Atopic status as a factor in job decision making in grain workers. J Occup Med. 1991 Sep;33(9):1007–1010. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. James A. L., Cookson W. O., Buters G., Lewis S., Ryan G., Hockey R., Musk A. W. Symptoms and longitudinal changes in lung function in young seasonal grain handlers. Br J Ind Med. 1986 Sep;43(9):587–591. doi: 10.1136/oem.43.9.587. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. James A. L., Zimmerman M. J., Ee H., Ryan G., Musk A. W. Exposure to grain dust and changes in lung function. Br J Ind Med. 1990 Jul;47(7):466–472. doi: 10.1136/oem.47.7.466. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. 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]
  12. Koskela R. S., Järvinen E., Korhonen H., Mutanen P. Health selection among metal workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983 Apr;9(2 Spec No):155–161. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2430. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Koskela R. S., Luoma K., Hernberg S. Turnover and health selection among foundry workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1976;2 (Suppl 1):90–105. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2828. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Yach D., Myers J., Bradshaw D., Benatar S. R. A respiratory epidemiologic survey of grain mill workers in Cape Town, South Africa. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985 Apr;131(4):505–510. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1985.131.4.505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. doPico G. A., Reddan W., Anderson S., Flaherty D., Smalley E. Acute effects of grain dust exposure during a work shift. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Sep;128(3):399–404. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.128.3.399. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES