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. 2007 Oct 8;2:11. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-2-11

Table 1.

Characteristics of the study population stratified by exposure group

Reference (n = 123) Welders n = 114) Solvents (n = 106) Mineral dust (n = 107) Organic dust (n = 97) Total (n = 546) overall p
Age (years) Mean (SD) 38.3 1,2 (8.3) 37.6 1 (7.6) 39.3 1,2 (6.4) 40.1 2,3 (7.8) 41.8 3 (8.3) 39.3 (7.8) 0.0001
Height (cm) Mean (SD) 173 (6.7) 172.3 (5.9) 171.4 (6.7) 171.8 (6.8) 172.3 (5.8) 172.2 (6.4) NS
Weight (kg) Mean (SD) 69.3 2,3 (10.9) 65.6 1 (10.5) 66.2 1,2 (11.5) 67.3 1,2 (11.6) 713 (12.4) 65.8 (11.5) 0.003
Duration exposure Mean (years) (SD) 18 4 (8.5) 13.9 2,3 (5.7) 11.9 1 (4.9) 12.8 1 (6.6) 14.6 3,4 (5.9) 13.8 (6.6) <0.0001
Monthly salary (DA) Mean (SD) 11022 4 (1929) 8383 1 (1692) 9972 3 (1842) 9262 2 (2053) 9989 3 (1622) 9739 (2049) <0.0001
Smoking Habit
 Non-smokers n (%) 43 (35) 27 (24) 26 (25) 29 (27) 30 (31) 155 (28.4) NS
 Ex-smokers n (%) 26 (25) 25 (22) 17 (13) 30 (28) 27 (28) 125 (22.8) NS
 Smokers n (%) 54 1 (44) 62 1,2 (54) 62 2 (59) 48 1 (45) 40 1 (41) 256 (48.8) 0.04
 Cigarettes/day* Mean (SD) 15.2 1 (8.1) 17 1 (11) 18.9 2 (9.1) 16.4 1,2 (8.1) 17.3 1,2 (10.5) 16.9 (9.4) NS
 Pack years* Mean (SD) 12.9 1 (6.7) 12 1 (5.9) 16.5 2 (6.7) 11.9 1 (6.8) 13.1 1 (5.8) 13.3 (6.4) 0.04
Allergy n (%) 10 1,2 (8.1) 3 1 (2.6) 13 2 (12.4) 4 1 (3.8) 5 1,2 (5.1) 35 (6.4) 0.02
Asthma n (%) 3 (2.4) 3 (2.6) 2 (1.9) 0 (0) 1 (1) 9 (1.6) NS

1,2,3: Groups with the same number in exponent do not differ significantly. *excluding never smokers.

DA: Algerian Dinar

Allergy based on reported symptoms, use of medication for allergy or the presence of hayfever or nasal allergies.