Follow-up pulmonary function studies in copper smelter workers

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Title Follow-up pulmonary function studies in copper smelter workers
Publication Type thesis
School or College School of Medicine
Department Family & Preventive Medicine
Author Wood, Stephen Daniel
Date 1982-06
Description Sulfur dioxide, a respiratory irritant, is a common occupational exposure in non-ferrous smelters. Between 1973 and 1974 health and pulmonary function data were collected on 113 copper smelter workers and an accelerate loss of pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] associated with sulfur dioxide levels of 1 ppm or higher was reported. In the present study, 92 of these workers were relocated and 66 agreed to participate in a follow-up survey which used the same model spirometer and standardized pulmonary function technique employed in the original study. For the 66 subjects studied, pulmonary function test revealed 3 individual with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 5 individual with mild COPD, and 58 individuals with normal spirometry. The mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 99.6% per cent of predicted. The mean FEV1 was 93.5 per cent of predicted, significantly lower than expected (p<.001). This decrease was found to be significant only for those 41 subjects with a history of cigarette usage (p<.001). The mean FEV1 which had been predicted to decline at a rate of 56 cc per year based on 1973 to 1974 data actually increased by 1 cc per year between 1973 and 1980 (p<.01). The greatest improvement of FEV1 was noted in those individuals who had quite smoking since 1974. The study demonstrated that cigarette smoking is a major contributing factor in accelerated loss of pulmonary function. An effect attributable to low-level sulfur dioxide exposure could not be confirmed.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Respiratory Function Tests; Mining
Subject MESH Copper; Sulfur Dioxide
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name MS
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "Follow-up pulmonary function studies in copper smelter workers". Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "Follow-up pulmonary function studies in copper smelter workers" available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection. RA 4.5 1982 W66.
Rights Management © Stephen Daniel Wood.
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 664,048 bytes
Identifier undthes,4156
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available)
Master File Extent 664,071 bytes
ARK ark:/87278/s6c82c2w
Setname ir_etd
ID 190844
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6c82c2w
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