Abstract
Two studies were conducted at an aluminum smelter employing 113 male workers in the smelting process. Twenty one of the 111 men in the first study experienced chest tightness more often than once a week and had a higher prevalence of cough, dyspnoea, and nasal symptoms but not of positive skin test responses than symptomless men. Lung function in these men did not differ significantly from that in the symptomless men at the beginning of the working week and only marginal deterioration occurred over the week. In the second study serial spirometric measurements were obtained over several shifts in a subset of 31 men from the first study. Impairment of ventilatory function on exposure to smelting fumes was demonstrated in 18 men. Analysis of all data from the 31 subjects revealed that ventilatory function varied significantly in association with heavy exposure to potfumes and a history of recurrent chest tightness. The findings of these two studies indicate that aluminum smelting fumes can cause bronchoconstriction in susceptible individuals. The reaction is dose dependent and is more severe in those with a history of recurrent chest tightness.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Chan-Yeung M., Wong R., MacLean L., Tan F., Schulzer M., Enarson D., Martin A., Dennis R., Grzybowski S. Epidemiologic health study of workers in an aluminum smelter in British Columbia. Effects on the respiratory system. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Apr;127(4):465–469. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.127.4.465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Field G. B. The application of a quantitative estimate of cough frequency to epidemiological surveys. Int J Epidemiol. 1974 Jun;3(2):135–143. doi: 10.1093/ije/3.2.135. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Field G., Owen P., Gandevia B. Mobile laboratory for respiratory surveys in industry. Med J Aust. 1976 Jun 5;1(23):867–869. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gandevia B. Occupational asthma. I. Med J Aust. 1970 Aug 15;2(7):332–contd. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb50018.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grimby G., Takishima T., Graham W., Macklem P., Mead J. Frequency dependence of flow resistance in patients with obstructive lung disease. J Clin Invest. 1968 Jun;47(6):1455–1465. doi: 10.1172/JCI105837. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hall G. J., Gandevia B. Relationship of the loose cough sign to daily sputum volume. Observer variation in its detection. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1971 May;25(2):109–113. doi: 10.1136/jech.25.2.109. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kaltreider N. L., Elder M. J., Cralley L. V., Colwell M. O. Health survey of aluminum workers with special reference to fluoride exposure. J Occup Med. 1972 Jul;14(7):531–541. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Saric M., Gomzi M., Hrustic O., Paukovic R., Rudan P. Respiratory impairment in the electrolytic extraction of aluminium. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1979 Jan 15;42(3-4):217–221. doi: 10.1007/BF00377775. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sarić M., Zuskin E., Gomzi M. Bronchoconstriction in potroom workers. Br J Ind Med. 1979 Aug;36(3):211–215. doi: 10.1136/oem.36.3.211. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]