Document ID (ISN) | 111928 |
CIS number |
11-0523 |
ISSN - Serial title |
0271-3586 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine |
Year |
2011 |
Convention or series no. |
|
Author(s) |
Donoghue A.M., Frisch N., Ison M., Walpole G., Capil R., Curl C., Di Corleto R., Hanna B., Robson R., Viljoen D. |
Title |
Occupational asthma in the aluminium smelters of Australia and New Zealand: 1991-2006 |
Bibliographic information |
2011, Vol.54, p.224-231. Illus. 18 ref. |
Abstract |
The objective of this study was to examine the incidence of occupational asthma in the seven aluminium smelters of Australia and New Zealand from 1991 to 2006. Incidence and exposure data were collected by survey from the smelters prospectively during the study period. The incidence of occupational asthma across all smelters combined was highest in 1992 at 9.46/1,000/year, declining to 0.36/1,000/year in 2006; a 96.2% reduction. The incidence of occupational asthma was correlated with geometric mean total fluoride concentration, measured as personal samples from employees undertaking anode changing. The control of exposures, respiratory protection and pre-placement medical assessments undertaken during the study period seem to have contributed to the substantial decline in occupational asthma incidence. |
Descriptors (primary) |
Australia; New Zealand; asthma; smelting plants; aluminium industry; frequency rates |
Descriptors (secondary) |
long-term study; medical supervision; pre-employment medical examinations; limitation of exposure; safe working methods |
Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
Subject(s) |
Metal production and metalworking Occupational pathology
|
Broad subject area(s) |
Occupational medicine, epidemiology
|
Browse category(ies) |
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar) Metalworking industry
|