| Document ID (ISN) | 107893 |
| CIS number |
08-337 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
0271-3586 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine |
| Year |
2006 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Oliver L.C., Miracle-McMahill H. |
| Title |
Airway disease in highway and tunnel construction workers exposed to silica |
| Bibliographic information |
Dec. 2006, Vol.49, No.12, p.983-996. 41 ref. |
| Abstract |
Workers employed in the construction of a tunnel were exposed over an 18-month period to respirable crystalline silica at concentrations that exceeded the OSHA permissible exposure limit. The present study examines workplace exposures and occurrence of airway disease in these workers. Medical and occupational histories and chest radiographs were obtained on 343 workers who had worked on the site during the period in question. Chest radiographs were interpreted according to the ILO-1980 system of classification. Questionnaire responses allowed the identification of symptoms consistent with asthma, chronic bronchitis, shortness of breath and physician-diagnosed asthma (current vs. not current). Relationships between these symptoms and several specific tasks were examined. No cases of silicosis were found on chest X-ray. Overall prevalence of chronic bronchitis, symptoms consistent with asthma, shortness of breath and physician-diagnosed asthma was 10.7%, 25%, 29%, and 6.6%, respectively. A healthy worker effect is suggested. Other findings are discussed. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
road work; USA; silica; risk factors; respirable dust; tunnelling; construction industry; respiratory diseases |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
threshold limit values; radiological classifications; public OSH institutions; chronic bronchitis; ILO; symptoms; dyspnoea; asthma; diagnosis; exposure evaluation; questionnaire survey; statistical evaluation; frequency rates; chest radiography; healthy worker effect |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Country / State or Province | USA |
| Subject(s) |
Construction industry
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
Occupational medicine, epidemiology
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Construction industry and civil engineering
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)
Road transportation
|
