Abstract

Workers from production of liquid, pasty, and multi-component chemical materials for construction and engineering are exposed to toluene, halogen and amino derivatives of hydrocarbons, and epoxy resins. Objective. To examine differences in lung function between workers from production of the chemical materials for construction and engineering (EG) and office workers (CG). Methods. Cross-sectional study including 50 EG workers (all males, mean age 49.7±8.6 years, mean exposure duration 19.4±9.3 years). 50 office workers, matched by gender, age, job duration and smoking status were examined as control. Only EG workers had a job with high exposure to dust, gases and fumes. Evaluation of workers included questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, spirometry, and job exposure matrices. Regression models were tested to examine the associations of working in this industry to lung function parameters controlling for age, duration of employment, exposure duration, daily smoking, life-time smoking, and number of cigarettes per day. Results. Prevalence of cough (20%), phlegm (18%), and dyspnoea (14%) was significantly higher in EG. Mean MEF25, MEF50 and MEF75 values were significantly lower in EG. COPD was significantly more frequent in EG (14% vs. 6%, p<0.05). High dust (OR=1.9, 95%CI 1.5-2.4) and gases/fumes/vapours (OR=1.5, 95%CI 1.1-2.6) exposure predicted COPD development. Working in this industry (? = -.216) negatively predicted FEV1/FVC (R2 = .099, ?R2 = .049, ?F=6.33, p=0.011). Conclusion. Occupational exposures increased the likelihood of lung function impairment and COPD in workers from production of chemical materials for construction and engineering.