Sulfur dioxide exposure in a smelter. III. Acute effects and sputum cytology

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6380668

Archer, V E ^[1]; Fullmer, C D; Castle, C H

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1. National Inst. for Occuational Safety and Health, Salt Lake City, UT

Although acute effects from exposure to SO/sub 2/ have frequently been observed at low levels in acute exposure experimental studies, it was not known whether or not such effects occur among workers chronically exposed at ranges of 0.3 to 4 ppM of SO/sub 2/. Measurements of FVC, FEV/sub 1/, FEF/sub 50/, FEF/sub 75/ and FEF/sub 50-75/, and closing volume were made before and after the workshift for copper smelter workers and controls. Sputum samples for cytological examination were collected. Mean FEV/sub 1/ and FVC were significantly decreased during a day's work in the smelter. Significantly more smelter workers had a decrease in FEV/sub 1/ and FEF/sub 50/ during the day than did controls. More of the smelter workers felt chest tightness. No change in closing volumes was seen. Smelter workers tended to have a higher percentage of sputum samples with moderate and marked atypia than did controls but the difference was not statistically significant.

• OSTI ID: 6380668
• Journal Information: J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Occup. Med.; (United States) Vol. 21:5; ISSN JOCMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
570000 -- Health & Safety
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGY
BODY FLUIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CYTOLOGY
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DATA FORMS
INFORMATION
INJURIES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
SMELTING
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TABLES