Work-related respiratory symptoms and lung function in New Zealand mussel openers

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
W I GlassN E Pearce

Abstract

Our objectives were to measure the prevalence of work-related and nonwork-related respiratory symptoms in a group of New Zealand mussel openers who open green-lipped mussels, and to relate these to demographic factors, work history, smoking history, and pulmonary function measurements. A cross-section study of respiratory symptoms and lung function was performed on 224 New Zealand mussel openers (99.6% of the study population) at nine work sites. In addition, peak expiratory flow (PEF) change across-shift was measured at one work site in 19 workers. The mean age of all mussel openers was 33.4 years and the mean duration of mussel opening was 5.0 years; 25% were male, 54.7% were current smokers, and 13.9% were ex-smokers. The reported symptom prevalences were: any wheeze, 35%; work-related wheeze, 23%; any chest tightness, 30.5%; work-related chest tightness, 20.2% (work-related symptoms were defined as symptoms improving on rest days or worse at work). Seventy-two mussel openers (32.3%) answered positively to at least 1 of 4 questions concerning work-related symptoms. The mean predicted FEV1 (SD) for this group was 74.3% (14.5), and the mean predicted FVC (SD) was 79.2 (16.0). Nineteen workers completed serial PEF, and the mean...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 21, 2001·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·M F JeebhayA L Lopata
Oct 21, 2015·Occupational Medicine·R E WiggansC M Barber
Jan 27, 2015·International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health·M OldenburgU Manuwald
Jun 22, 2006·Journal of Occupational Health·Jong ParkSo-Yeon Ryu
Aug 30, 2008·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·Mohamed F JeebhayAndreas L Lopata

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