PULMONARY EFFECTS OF INHALED DUST AND FUMES - EXPOSURE-RESPONSE STUDYIN RUBBER WORKERS

Lung function changes and respiratory symptoms were investigated in a cross-sectional study in rubber workers exposed to dust and fumes. To exclude acute pulmonary effects related to ''rubber fumes,'' lung func tion was measured in curing workers at the start and end of the day sh ift. Exposure to inhalable dust was measured in all production areas. The results were compared with a reference population from the same ge ographical region. This study indicates that exposure to ''rubber fume s'' in curing workers was not related to cross-shift and cross-week de creases in pulmonary function at levels similar to 1 mg/m(3) (AM) inha lable dust and 260 mu g/m(3) cyclohexane soluble fraction (CSF). Cross -sectional analyses gave indications for a small loss in pulmonary fun ction in all ruber workers. This decrease in lung function was associa ted with 10 years of exposure to an average of 2.0 mg/m(3) inhalable d ust. Our study showed a mean annual decline of 0.08% for the FEV1/FVC ratio and of 10 ml/s for the MMEF. Self-reported chronic respiratory s ymptoms were not related to dust exposure. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.