Document ID (ISN) | 109338 |
CIS number |
09-322 |
ISSN - Serial title |
0340-0131 - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health |
Year |
2007 |
Convention or series no. |
Neghab M.
|
Author(s) |
Rahimi E., Emad A., Rajaeei Fard A.R. |
Title |
An epidemiological study of talc-related respiratory morbidity among employees of a rubber industry in Shiraz-Iran |
Bibliographic information |
May 2007, Vol.80, No.6, p.539-546. 26 ref. |
Abstract |
The purpose of this study was to assess and characterize the pulmonary reactions associated with occupational exposure to talc dust. It involved ninety-seven talc workers and 110 unexposed employees of a rubber industry in Shiraz, Iran. Standardized respiratory questionnaires were administered to the subjects, they underwent chest X-ray and were examined by a specialist for any possible respiratory abnormality to be diagnosed. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were also performed just before and after the work shift. Moreover, to assess the extent to which workers had been exposed to talc dust, inhalable and respirable dust concentrations were measured in different worksites. Talc exposed subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Similarly, PFTs revealed that exposure to this lubricating agent was associated with significant decreases in the mean percentage predicted of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1). Moreover, there was an acute reduction in some parameters of pulmonary function such as VC, FVC and FEV1, over the work shift. Chest radiographs of exposed workers showed that pneumoconiosis profusions were between p 0/0 and p 2/1 according to the ILO 1980 chest X-ray classification. These results that are in full agreement with preliminary observations and support the notion that occupational inhalation exposure to talc is associated with both acute and chronic respiratory disorders and induces bronchitis and interstitial lung disease. |
Descriptors (primary) |
airborne dust; rubber industry; pulmonary function; morbidity; talc |
Descriptors (secondary) |
Iran; epidemiology; pulmonary fibrosis; chest radiography; case-control study; respiratory function tests; frequency rates; respirable dust |
Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
Country / State or Province | Iran, Islamic Republic of |
Subject(s) |
Chemicals, plastics and rubber
|
Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety Occupational medicine, epidemiology
|
Browse category(ies) |
Rubber industry
|