Respiratory Effects Among Rubberwood Furniture Factory Workers in Thailand

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function were examined among 89 rubberwood furniture factory workers. Acute and chronic irritant symptoms were assessed, lung function was measured both pre- and post-shift and personal inhalable dust exposure determined. The only symptoms with a significant increa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of environmental & occupational health 2013-03, Vol.68 (2), p.87-94
Main Authors: Sriproed, Salakjit, Osiri, Pramuk, Sujirarat, Dusit, Chantanakul, Suttinun, Harncharoen, Kitiphong, Ong-artborirak, Parichat, Woskie, Susan R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Cohort Studies
Dust - analysis
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
furniture workers
Hevea - toxicity
Humans
Industry
Interior Design and Furnishings
latex
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure
respiratory function
Respiratory Insufficiency - epidemiology
Respiratory Insufficiency - etiology
Respiratory Insufficiency - physiopathology
rubberwood
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thailand
Thailand - epidemiology
Vital Capacity
Wood - toxicity
wood dust
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Summary:Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function were examined among 89 rubberwood furniture factory workers. Acute and chronic irritant symptoms were assessed, lung function was measured both pre- and post-shift and personal inhalable dust exposure determined. The only symptoms with a significant increase among high dust level-exposed workers (>1 mg/m 3 ) were those related to nasal irritation. High dust level-exposed workers had a significant cross-shift decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV 1 /FVC) compared with low dust level-exposed workers and increases in inhalable dust concentration levels (mg/m 3 ) were significantly associated with decreases in the peak expiratory flow (PEF) across the work shift. For percent predicted pulmonary function levels, a significant decrement in PEF was found for high versus low rubberwood dust level-exposed workers, after controlling for confounders. These findings suggest the need for an occupational standard for rubberwood dust in Thailand.
ISSN:1933-8244
2154-4700
DOI:10.1080/19338244.2011.646361