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    Is potroom asthma due more to sulphur dioxide than fluoride? An inception cohort study in the Australian aluminium industry

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Abramson, M.
    Benke, G.
    Cui, J.
    de Klerk, N.
    Del Monaco, A.
    Dennekamp, M.
    Fritschi, Lin
    Musk, A.
    Sim, M.
    Date
    2010
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Abramson, M. and Benke, G. and Cui, J. and de Klerk, N. and Del Monaco, A. and Dennekamp, M. and Fritschi, L. et al. 2010. Is potroom asthma due more to sulphur dioxide than fluoride? An inception cohort study in the Australian aluminium industry. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 67 (10): pp. 679-685.
    Source Title
    Occupational and Environmental Medicine
    DOI
    10.1136/oem.2009.046458
    ISSN
    13510711
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40549
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Methods: An inception cohort study was conducted at two Australian aluminium smelters where 446 employees participated over a period of 9 years. Cumulative exposures between interviews were estimated from job histories using a task exposure matrix based on measurements in the smelters. Participants completed an MRC respiratory questionnaire, spirometry and methacholine challenge test. Data were analysed with generalised estimating equations to allow for repeated measurements of each participant. Results: Wheeze and chest tightness, the two symptoms most closely related to asthma, showed associations with occupational exposures. SO2 exposure was significantly associated with these symptoms, bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) to methacholine (a feature of asthma), airflow limitation (reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio) and longitudinal decline in lung function. Fluoride exposure was associated with the same outcomes, but less strongly. Inhalable dust and the benzene soluble fraction (BSF) were associated with symptoms of asthma and BHR. Although many of the exposures were highly correlated, further modelling suggested that of the known respiratory irritants, SO2 was more likely than fluoride to be primarily responsible for the symptoms observed. Fluoride, inhalable dust and SO2 were the most important airborne contaminants associated with effects on lung function. Conclusions: The observed effects were detected at contaminant levels within occupational exposure standards, so further reductions are required, particularly in SO2 exposures.

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