Industry-wide medical surveillance of California flavor manufacturing workers: Cross-sectional results.
Am J Ind Med
; 53(9): 857-65, 2010 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20564514
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Two cases of bronchiolitis obliterans in flavor manufacturing workers prompted California health and labor agencies to initiate industry-wide surveillance.METHODS:
Companies' physicians submitted cross-sectional questionnaire and spirometry data for 467 workers in 16 workplaces. We compared prevalence ratios of respiratory symptoms, diagnoses, and abnormal spirometry to a general population sample. We calculated odds ratios for risk factors for spirometric obstructive abnormality.RESULTS:
Flavoring workers were 2.7 times more likely than the general population to have severe airways obstruction. Risk factors identified for 18 cases with obstruction from six companies included younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, liquid and powder production work, greater company diacetyl usage, and having a coworker with obstruction. Severity of obstruction was related to tenure. At least 12 workers had probable occupational fixed airways obstruction.CONCLUSIONS:
The flavoring industry risk of severe lung disease justifies lowering flavoring exposures and medical screening for secondary prevention until worker safety is demonstrated.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Occupational Exposure
/
Occupational Health
/
Diacetyl
/
Flavoring Agents
/
Industry
/
Lung Diseases
/
Occupational Diseases
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Ind Med
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States