Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0032273 (pneumoconiosis)
 1,578 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To assess clincial effects of precipitated amorphous silica (PAS), the authors reviewed serial spirograms, respiratory questionnaires, and chest radiographs of 165 workers exposed for a mean of 8.6 years. Monthly exposure was graded on a 1 to 4 scale and a "cumulative exposure index" (CEI) calculated for each worker from the sum of measured exposure. A "mean exposure index" (MEI) was calculated by dividing the CEI by total months exposed. Sputum production and dyspnea were inversely correlated with CEI, while cough and dyspnea correlated with mean pack-years of smoking but not PAS exposure. Linear regression analysis of yearly change of all pulmonary function variables (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75) showed no correlation with either the dose of PAS (CEI) or total years of exposure. Among 44 workers with a mean exposure time of 18 years (range 10-35 years), yearly decline of FVC and FEV1 were similar to the overall group. Of 143 workers with serial radiographs and exposure to only PAS, none had radiographic pneumoconiosis. Respiratory symptoms in PAS workers correlate with smoking but not with PAS exposure, while serial pulmonary function values and chest radiographs are not adversely affected by long-term exposure.
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PMID:Effects of chronic amorphous silica exposure on sequential pulmonary function. 22 56

Two hundred and eighty-three (283) male diesel bus garage workers from four garages in two cities were examined to determine if there was excess chronic respiratory morbidity related to diesel exposure. The dependent variables were respiratory symptoms, radiographic interpretation for pneumoconiosis, and pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, and flow rates). Independent variables included race, age, smoking, drinking, height, and tenure (as surrogate measure of exposure). Exposure-effect relationships within the study population showed no detectable associations of symptoms with tenure. There was an apparent association of pulmonary function and tenure. Seven workers (2.5%) had category 1 pneumoconiosis (three rounded opacities, two irregular opacities, and one with both rounded and irregular). The study population was also compared to a nonexposed "blue-collar" population. After indirect adjustment for age, race, and smoking, the study population had elevated prevalences of cough, phlegm, and wheezing, but there was no association with tenure. Dyspnea showed a dose-response trend but no apparent increase in prevalence. Mean percent predicted pulmonary function of the study population was greater than 100%, i.e., elevated above the comparison population. These data show there is an apparent effect of diesel exhaust on pulmonary function but not chest radiographs. Respiratory symptoms are high compared to "blue-collar" workers, but there is no relationship with tenure.
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PMID:Epidemiological-environmental study of diesel bus garage workers: chronic effects of diesel exhaust on the respiratory system. 244 45

In 1985, employees in the china clay industry were offered chest x ray examinations and 4478 (52.6% of the total workforce) accepted. Of these, 4167 workers and pensioners of the largest single employer also completed occupational histories, respiratory symptom questionnaires, and underwent ventilatory capacity tests. The x ray readings (read to the 1980 ILO classification) of the 4167 workers and pensioners were analysed to seek relations between the indices of pulmonary health and occupational exposure. The information available, particularly on occupational history, was more detailed than in previous studies of 1961, 1977, and 1981. Analyses show that in the improved operating conditions of recent years the average worker exposed to dust only after 1971 would not expect to develop category 1 pneumoconiosis through a full working life in any of the industry's occupations. For those with exposure before 1971 the category reached will depend on the amount of early exposure, but the rate of development of pneumoconiosis since 1971 is about half that before 1971. The milling of china stone, a practice that ceased over 15 years ago in the china clay industry, had by far the largest effect on x ray category, whereas of the current occupations, employment in china clay attritor mills has the greatest effect. Ventilatory capacity is related to x ray category as well as age, and results for loss of ventilatory capacity in relation to age, x ray category, and smoking habits were similar to the results in previous studies. Respiratory symptoms are associated with smoking class and a loss in ventilatory capacity (FVC or FEV1), FEV1 being the most dominant. Allowing for this, there was no further effect for years of exposure, x ray category, or age.
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PMID:China clay workers in the south west of England: analysis of chest radiograph readings, ventilatory capacity, and respiratory symptoms in relation to type and duration of occupation. 271 82

Respiratory symptoms and radiographic and lung function alterations were studied in a cross-sectional survey of gemstone workers in Hong Kong. The study population included a group of grinders, polishers, and buffers who were heavily exposed to dust (principally free silica) and a less exposed group of cutters and carvers. Among all 218 male workers who answered the respiratory questionnaire, heavily exposed workers reported significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms suggestive of mucus hypersecretion. Radiological pneumoconiosis defined as opacities with profusion of 1/0 and above was found in 27% of 157 workers who accepted radiographic and lung function examination. Radiological opacities were significantly related to increasing years of employment in both groups of workers after taking into account age and smoking habits. Decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly related to increasing years of employment in both groups after allowing for the effects of age, height, and smoking. A modest decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was related to dust exposure which was of borderline statistical significance in polishers and buffers who smoked. Radiological pneumoconiosis did not have an independent effect on lung function when allowance was made for dust exposure.
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PMID:A survey of the respiratory health of silica-exposed gemstone workers in Hong Kong. 303 74

Respiratory symptoms and lung function of 80 coal workers suspected of pneumoconiosis (pulmonary X-rays classified 0/1 or 1/0 according to International Labour Organisation classification) who worked for at least 10 years at face work (Ts) were studied in comparison with two control groups matched by age (+/- 2 years), height (+/- 5 cm), weight (+/- 10 kg) and smoking habits: the Tn group constituted by 80 coal workers who worked for at least 10 years at face work with normal pulmonary X-rays, and the HTn group constituted by 80 underground miners who worked mainly out of face work with normal pulmonary X-rays. The frequencies of cough, expectoration, chronic bronchitis or dyspnoea were significantly higher in Ts group than in the two others. The one-second forced expiratory volume to vital capacity ratio (FEV1/VC) was lower, closing volume to vital capacity (CV/VC) or to total lung capacity ratios (CV/TLC) were higher in Ts group than in the control groups. Unexpectedly, vital capacity (VC), one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), compliance, diffusing capacity (DLCO) referred to alveolar volume (VA) were higher. In Ts group, the small rounded opacities were noted in the top part of the lung (56.9%), the irregular ones were distributed on the entire lung (65.5%). There were no relation between the category of small opacities and respiratory symptoms or lung function.
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PMID:[Respiratory symptoms and function of coal miners presenting radiological pulmonary abnormalities]. 781 67

Health hazards associated with wood dust exposure have been investigated in various industries. This study surveyed wood dust exposure levels and pulmonary effects among joss stick workers. Greater dust concentrations, as measured by six-stage cascade impactors, were observed in work areas where joss sticks were produced and incense was mixed than in other work areas. Total dust concentrations for these two high dust activities ranged from 9.9 to 42.7 mg/m3, and respirable proportions were between 2.0% and 54.6%. Higher dust levels were observed for dry joss stick production methods than for wet production methods. Dust levels for all other performance areas were lower than the permissible exposure level of 10 mg/m3. Although symptoms of cough and phlegm were higher in smoking workers than in nonsmoking workers, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms for exposed workers was not significantly higher than for the controls. The prevalence of pulmonary function deficits and the values of FEF25% and FEF75% in the exposed workers were significantly worse than those in the controls. But no difference was found between the male controls and the male exposed workers, the high-exposure group. Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function also did not show a dose-response trend with the exposure levels estimated by correlation with worker job titles and duration of employment. No suspected case of pneumoconiosis was found from the chest radiographs. These results suggest that wood dust exposure in the joss stick industries might not lead to significant pulmonary damage.
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PMID:Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among wood dust-exposed joss stick workers. 891 42