Original scientific paper
Ventilatory functions in aluminium extraction workers: a four-year follow-up
M. Gomzi
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
A follow-up study on ventilatory decrements was carried out in a group of male potroom workers. In 106 workers complete interviews and spirometric tests were performed on two occasions, in 1980 and again in 1984. In respect to lung function tests the group differed slightly but not significantly from the workers examined only in 1980. Measurements of hydrogen fluoride, particulate fluoride and sulphur dioxide concentrations were conducted at different workplaces. The relationship between the FVC and FEY1 decline over the four-year period and the worker's age, height, years of exposure, smoking habit, occurrence of chronic respiratory ·symptoms and initial lung function level were examined by the method of multivariate analysis. The rates of PVC and FEY1 decline related to the age as well as to the height, years of exposure and initial lung function value. There was also a distinct but weaker relationship between FEY, decline and smoking habit. The mean annual decline in PVC (66.1 ml/a) was higher than in FEV1 (34.9 ml/a), but the decreased forced vital capacity indices were related to the variables analysed to a lesser extent than those of the forced expiratory volume in the first second. The variables accounted for approximately 24-36% of the total variability of the lung function changes.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
152752
URI
Publication date:
25.4.1989.
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