Research findings, 'Industry-wide medical surveillance of California flavor manufacturing workers: Cross-sectional results,' are discussed in a new report. 'Two cases of bronchiolitis obliterans in flavor manufacturing workers prompted California health and labor agencies to initiate industry-wide surveillance. Companies' physicians submitted cross-sectional questionnaire and spirometry data for 467 workers in 16 workplaces,' scientists in the United States report (see also Industrial Medicine).
'We compared prevalence ratios of respiratory symptoms, diagnoses, and abnormal spirometry to a general population sample. We calculated odds ratios for risk factors for spirometric obstructive abnormality. Flavoring workers were 2.7 times more likely than the general population to have severe airways obstruction. Risk factors identified for 18 cases with obstruction from six companies included younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, liquid and powder production work, greater company diacetyl usage, and having a coworker with obstruction. Severity of obstruction was related to tenure. At least 12 workers had probable occupational fixed airways obstruction,' wrote T.J. Kim and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: 'The flavoring industry risk of severe lung disease justifies lowering flavoring exposures and medical screening for secondary prevention until worker safety is demonstrated.'
Kim and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Industrial Medicine (Industry-wide medical surveillance of California flavor manufacturing workers: Cross-sectional results. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2010;53(9):857-65).
For more information, contact T.J. Kim, Richmond, California Dept. of Public Health (CDPH), Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, California USA.
Keywords: State:California, Country:United States, Industrial Medicine.
This article was prepared by Respiratory Therapeutics Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Respiratory Therapeutics Week via NewsRx.com.
