Does aluminum smelting cause lung disease
The evidence concerning a relationship between work in the aluminum industry and lung disease has been reviewed using epidemiologic criteria. Adequate data on environmental exposure are rarely presented. Case series on aluminum potroom workers over the past 50 years have identified an asthmalike syndrome that appears to be due to an irritant rather than an allergic mechanism. These studies have been supported by evidence of within shift variability of measures of lung function. However, to date, there is inadequate evidence to resolve the question of whether potroom exposure initiates asthma or merely precipitates asthmalike symptoms in a predisposed individual. Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated evidence of reduced lung function, consistent with chronic airflow limitation. In exposed aluminum smelter workers compared to unexposed control subjects. Cigarette smoking, the major potential confounding variable, has been measured and accounted for in multivariate analyses. To date, evidence is lacking from longitudinal studies about the development of disabling chronic obstructive lung disease. Exposure to coal tar pitch volatiles in the production and consumption of anodes has biologic plausibility for an association of lung cancer with work in an aluminum smelter. Although retrospective mortality studies have failed to account for the probable high prevalence of smoking in blue collar workers, the relative risk of lung cancer is very low if present at all. Pulmonary fibrosis has not been shown to be a significant problem in aluminum smelter workers. Future research in the aluminum industry needs to concentrate on longitudinal studies, preferably with an inception cohort for the investigation of potroom asthma. 92 references.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Newcastle (Australia)
- OSTI ID:
- 6146533
- Journal Information:
- Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Vol. 139:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ALUMINIUM
HEALTH HAZARDS
ASTHMA
EPIDEMIOLOGY
COAL TAR
LUNGS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
FIBROSIS
METALLURGY
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
REVIEWS
RISK ASSESSMENT
TOBACCO SMOKES
AEROSOLS
BODY
COLLOIDS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
MATHEMATICS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SMOKES
SOLS
STATISTICS
TAR
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
016000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Health & Safety