Respiratory symptoms and lung function abnormalities related to work at a flavouring manufacturing facility.

Objectives: To better understand respiratory symptoms and lung function in flavouring manufacturing workers.

Methods: We offered a questionnaire and lung function testing to the current workforce of a flavouring manufacturing facility that had transitioned away from diacetyl and towards substitutes in recent years. We examined symptoms, spirometric parameters and diffusing capacity measurements by exposure variables, including facility tenure and time spent daily in production areas.

Exposures and cross-shift lung function declines in wildland firefighters.

Respiratory problems are common among wildland firefighters. However, there are few studies directly linking occupational exposures to respiratory effects in this population. Our objective was to characterize wildland fire fighting occupational exposures and assess their associations with cross-shift changes in lung function.

Rayon flock: a new cause of respiratory morbidity in a card processing plant.

Background: Following employee respiratory concerns, we investigated the health effects of rayon flock exposure at a card manufacturing plant.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey including environmental evaluation, standardized questionnaires, spirometry, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity testing, and methacholine challenge testing.

Results: From a total of 239 participants, 146 (61%) reported working at least 1 hr per week in areas where flock-coated cards are processed (flock workers) and 47 (20%) reported cleaning equipment with compressed air.