Lung Function in Workers Refining Phosphorus Rock to Obtain Elementary Phosphorus

Elevated levels of phosphoric acid, phosphorus pentoxide, fluorides and coal tar pitch volatiles were present in workplace air of a two-oven industrial refinery. One hundred thirty-one workers prospectively underwent annual pulmonary function testing (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 1993-10, Vol.35 (10), p.1028-1033
Main Authors: Dutton, Cynthia B., Pigeon, Marcel J., Renzi, Paolo M., Feustel, Paul J., Dutton, Robert E., Renzi, Gildo D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Air Pollutants, Occupational - adverse effects
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Coal Tar - adverse effects
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Fluorides - adverse effects
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Lung Diseases, Obstructive - chemically induced
Lung Diseases, Obstructive - prevention & control
Lung Volume Measurements
Male
Maximum Allowable Concentration
Medical sciences
Metals and various inorganic compounds
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - chemically induced
Occupational Diseases - prevention & control
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Occupational hazards
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Phosphorus - adverse effects
Phosphorus Compounds
Prospective Studies
Respiratory system
Risk Factors
Smoking - adverse effects
Toxicology
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Summary:Elevated levels of phosphoric acid, phosphorus pentoxide, fluorides and coal tar pitch volatiles were present in workplace air of a two-oven industrial refinery. One hundred thirty-one workers prospectively underwent annual pulmonary function testing (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and forced expiratory flow). Regression of these spirometric data, analyzed longitudinally over 3 to 7 years and also cross-sectionally reveals no residual significant effect of industrial exposure after adjusting for the effect of age and smoking. This industrial exposure contributes only weakly and inconsistently to the well-documented reduction of spirometric lung function that occurs from smoking alone. No significant reductions of spirometry occurred in exposed nonsmokers or former smokers.
ISSN:0096-1736
1076-2752
2332-3795
1536-5948