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Query: UMLS:C0032273 (pneumoconiosis)
 1,578 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Spirometry, chest radiography, environmental measurements, and a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms were used to evaluate the effects of exposure to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) dust on 171 Chinese and Malay PVC compounding workers in comparison with an unexposed reference group. Workers with high cumulative PVC dust exposure had a lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity, and a higher prevalence of radiological profusion of small opacities. Wheezing or chest tightness was also significantly more frequent in this group. Unlike previous studies, the PVC compounding workers in this study were exposed to only negligible amounts, if any, of vinyl chloride monomer or thermal degradation products of PVC such as hydrogen chloride, phosgene, or chlorine. The conclusion was drawn that a low grade of pneumoconiosis and a small degree of lung function impairment is associated with PVC dust exposure. Reversible airways obstruction is also likely and warrants further investigation.
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PMID:Pulmonary effects of polyvinyl chloride dust exposure on compounding workers. 204 7

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

The respiratory health of 3,027 carbon black workers employed in 19 plants (18 Western Europe, 1 U.S.A.) was assessed by questionnaire and spirometry; chest radiographs were used to assess 935 workers in the group. The results showed that the group of workers who were exposed to carbon black dust had an increased prevalence of chronic cough, sputum production and wheezing and the mean forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0) and flow between 25% and 75% of the FVC (MMEF 25-75%) were significantly less than those of the nonexposed group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the decline in respiratory health was related to the influence of smoking and age, with only a small part being associated with the combined effects of dust exposure and age. A simple type of pneumoconiosis was found in 6 of the workers, all of whom had more than 10 yr of dust exposure. Carbon black should be regarded as a nuisance dust without specific effect on the lungs.
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PMID:The respiratory health of carbon black workers. 361 91

Out of a total of 79 employees at a factory making vanadium pentoxide from magnetite ore 63 were investigated by respiratory questionnaire, chest radiography, and tests of ventilatory function. The findings were compared with a reference group of 63 men, matched for age (to within two years) and for smoking habit (to within five cigarettes daily) selected from workers at a magnetite ore mine. Analysis of the ventilation tests showed no significant differences between the reference group and the men exposed to low concentrations of vanadium (0.01--0.04 mg/m3), despite previous exposure for an average of 11 years to concentrations in the range of 0.1 to 3.9 mg/m3. Complaint of wheezing was significantly more common among the workers exposed to vanadium than among their referents, but there were no other subjective differences between the groups. Localized fibrotic foci were reported in the radiographs of four reference cases and two men exposed to vanadium, but there were no cases of pneumoconiosis in either group.
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PMID:Observations on the lungs of vanadium workers. 744 30

This study was conducted to investigate the health effects of exposure to silica dust in firebrick manufacturing plants. A cross-sectional study was designed, and the health effects in 526 exposed workers were compared with 164 nonexposed control workers. The medical examination included chest x-rays, pulmonary function tests, and a respiratory symptom questionnaire. Radiological evidence of pneumoconiosis was evident in 6.9% of the exposed firebrick workers, and the prevalence of pneumoconiosis increased with duration of employment. No differences in forced vital capacity were noted between the exposed and control groups; however, in both smokers and nonsmokers of the exposed group, forced expiratory flow in 1 s/forced vital capacity, mean maximal expiratory flow, forced expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow at 75% vital capacity were significantly lower than in the control group. Pulmonary function decreased as the duration of employment increased. The exposed group experienced significantly more wheezing, compared with the control group. There was evidence of a dose-response relationship between prevalence of pneumoconiosis/pulmonary function defects and estimated dust exposure levels. Pneumoconiosis and pulmonary function defects occurred frequently in workers who participated in the crushing and burning operations, both of which cause exposure to high levels of silica dust. We concluded that exposure to silica dust in workers at firebrick factories leads to radiological changes, pneumoconiosis, and pulmonary function damage.
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PMID:Pneumoconiosis and pulmonary function defects in silica-exposed fire brick workers. 868 44

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a randomly selected factory producing Portland cement in eastern Saudi Arabia to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases and chest x-ray changes consistent with pneumoconiosis in the employees. A sample of 150 exposed and 355 unexposed employees was selected. A questionnaire about respiratory symptoms was completed during an interview. Chest x-rays were read according to the ILO criteria for pneumoconiosis. Dust level was determined by the gravimetric method. Concentrations of personal respirable dust ranged from 2.13 mg/m3 in the kilns to 59.52 mg/m3 in the quarry area. Cough and phlegm were found to be related to cigarette smoking, while wheezing, shortness of breath, and bronchial asthma were related to dust levels. It is recommended that engineering measures be adopted to reduce the dust level in this company, together with health monitoring of exposed employees.
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PMID:Pulmonary effects of occupational exposure to Portland cement: a study from eastern Saudi Arabia. 1570 65

Dental technicians make the missing tooth and complementary prosthesis and bridges according to the dentist's measurements. They use various materials including silica. Exposure to these materials increases the multi-systemic health problems in addition to respiratory health problems related with work. We planned to evaluate the work history, working conditions and frequency of health problems including pneumoconiosis. Two hundred and fourteen cases in total from 9 workplaces were evaluated. A face to face questionnaire was used to determine the demographic features of workers and standard chest X-rays were evaluated by an expert reader according to ILO 1980 standards. Mean age of the workers was 28.1 + or - 8.3. Seventy four cases were non-smoker. Mean daily working time was 11.0 + or - 1.6 hours. Mean total working period in this sector was 12.1 + or - 9.0 years. One hundred cases had at least 1 respiratory complaint. Radiological findings were correlated with pneumoconiosis in 33 (23.6%) workers. Pneumoconiosis frequency was 50.0% in cases with sandblasting history. There was not any significant correlation between pneumoconiosis and cough, sputum, dyspnea, wheezing, physical examination findings and tenure. Dental technicians have serious respiratory risks including dermal and muscle-skeleton system arising from occupational setting in Turkey. Working conditions in dental laboratories must be improved by informing the workers and workplaces must be regularly controlled for worker health and hygiene.
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PMID:Pneumoconiosis and work-related health complaints in Turkish dental laboratory workers. 1978 67

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is fibrotic lung diseases of the pulmonary parenchyma following chronic inhalation of inorganic dusts containing crystalline silicon dioxide. The acute manifestations observed after heavy ashfalls include attacks of asthma and bronchitis, with an increased reporting of cough, breathlessness, chest tightness, and wheezing due to irritation of the lining of the airways. The chronic health condition of most concern is silicosis, a diffuse nodular fibrosis of the lungs, develops slowly, usually appearing 10 to 30 years after first exposure. A 35 years old male was admitted to Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta with complaints of progressive dyspnoea, right side chest pain since last 3 month and periodic episodes of dry cough. He had history of exposure to volcanic ash at the location around volcano eruption for about 10 month. Examination revealed hyperresonant note, diminished vesicular breath sounds in lower right side of the chest. The chest X-ray presence leads to bleb. Based on the clinical and radiological suspicion of pneumoconiosis the patient was submitted to computed tomography of the chest and revealed bilateral multiple bullae mainly at the right lung field. The biopsy specimen verified the diagnosis of anthrocosilicosis. There is no proven specific therapy for any form of silicosis. Symptomatic therapy should include treatment of airflow limitation with bronchodilators, aggressive management of respiratory tract infection with antibiotics, and use of supplemental oxygen (if indicated) to prevent complications of chronic hypoxemia.
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PMID:Traumatic Inhalation due to Merapi Volcanic Ash. 2658 90

Occupational pneumoconiosis refers to a group of occupational pulmonary diseases,which is mainly characterized by diffuse fibrosis of lung tissue caused by inhalation of different pathogenic productive dust and retention in the lungs during occupational activities for a long period of time. According to the classification and catalogue of occupational diseases in China,it is mainly classified into 12 categories,such as silicosis,coal worker's pneumoconiosis,asbestos lung. At present,it is the most serious and most common occupational disease in China. The pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis is not clear,and there is still no effective therapy. In the past three years,it is found that traditional Chinese medicine is effective in the treatment of pneumoconiosis. Through collection of medical records,the regularity of the prescriptions used in the treatment of pneumoconiosis were analyzed and summarized. According to the traditional Chinese medicine theory,the clinical characteristics of recurrent cough,phlegm and asthma in patients with pneumoconiosis could be included in the categories of cough,wheezing,lung distension. Professor Ma Guiqin believes that the basic pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis is depression of the atmosphere,deficiency of the kidney,internal obstruction of phlegm,and adverse cardinality. According to its pathogenesis,the commonly used prescriptions,namely Shengxian Decoction,Jinshui Liujun Jian,Xiaochaihu Decoction,Sini Powder,Guomin Jian and syndrome differentiation-based modified medicines were expounded. In addition, " throat is the gateway to the lung and stomach",Professor Ma also believes that the prevention of pneumoconiosis should start with the throat,so as to curb the exacerbation or recurrence of the disease. Through clinical observation,if traditional Chinese medicine is properly used,and pathogenesis and syndrome differentiation-based treatment is provided,traditional Chinese medicine can relieve the clinical symptoms,and improve the exercise tolerance and the quality of life of patients with pneumoconiosis.
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PMID:[Introduction to Professor Ma Guiqin's experience in treatment of occupational pneumoconiosis]. 3135 3