Respiratory morbidity of pattern and model makers exposed to wood, plastic, and metal products

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700170204· OSTI ID:6936571

Robins, T G; Haboubi, G; Demers, R Y; Schork, M A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor (USA)

Pattern and model makers are skilled tradespersons who may be exposed to hardwoods, softwoods, phenol-formaldehyde resin-impregnated woods, epoxy and polyester/styrene resin systems, and welding and metal-casting fumes. The relationship of respiratory symptoms (wheezing, chronic bronchitis, dyspnea) and pulmonary function (FVC% predicted, FEV1% predicted, FEV1/FVC% predicted) with interview-derived cumulative exposure estimates to specific workplace agents and to all work with wood, plastic, or metal products was investigated in 751 pattern and model makers in southeast Michigan. In stratified analyses and age- and smoking-adjusted linear and logistic regression models, measures of cumulative wood exposures were associated with decrements in pulmonary function and dyspnea, but not with other symptoms. In similar analyses, measures of cumulative plastic exposures were associated with wheezing, chronic bronchitis, and dyspnea, but not with decrements in pulmonary function. Prior studies of exposure levels among pattern and model makers and of respiratory health effects of specific agents among other occupational groups support the plausibility of wood-related effects more strongly than that of plastic-related effects.

• OSTI ID: 6936571
• Journal Information: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (USA) Vol. 17:2; ISSN 0271-3586; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALDEHYDES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FABRICATION
FORMALDEHYDE
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
JOINING
MATHEMATICS
METALLURGY
METALS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENOL
PHENOLS
PLASTICS INDUSTRY
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
STATISTICS
STYRENE
WELDING
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY