ISSN:
1432-1246
Keywords:
Key words Intervention
;
Skin test
;
Serology
;
Spirometry
;
Humidifier disease
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of remedial actions taken against a contaminated humidification system, after an outbreak of humidifier disease in a nylon carpet yarn plant. Methods: Two and 6 years after modification, a follow-up investigation of a stratified (age, smoking habits) sample of exposed (n=75) and non-exposed (n=56) workers was carried out. Outcome-parameters were: respiratory symptoms, spirometry, skin tests and serology with various humidifier fungi. In addition, the yearly incidence of work-disability because of chronic respiratory disease during the 2 years before, and 11 years after the modification was compared. Results: At follow-up, exposed workers, who remained at the same workplace no longer had significantly more frequent chronic respiratory symptoms. The prevalence of positive serology was still higher (P 〈 0.05) in exposed workers after 2 years, but at the 6 year follow-up investigation, the difference was no longer significant. Prevalence of positive skin tests after 2 years no longer differed from that of the non-exposed workers. Slopes (ml/years) of the graphs of forced vital capacity (FVC) and one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) during the 6 year follow-up after the first investigation did not differ between exposed and non-exposed workers, both before and after adjustment for age, smoking habits and results of skin tests and serology before modification. Before modification, exposed workers with a positive late skin test had a lower FVC than non-exposed workers. After 6 years of follow-up their FVC was still lower, but the difference was no longer significant. There were no indications of selective loss to follow-up. After remedial actions no new cases of humidifier disease occurred. Moreover, the yearly incidence of work-disability in this plant because of chronic respiratory disease, decreased from 1.30% to 0.27% compared with a decrease from 0.30% to 0.12% in other synthetic fibre plants. Conclusion: Follow-up investigation of exposure-effects demonstrated the effectiveness of remedial actions taken against a contaminated humidification system.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004200000130
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