TY - JOUR
T1 - A study of characteristics of Michigan workers with work-related asthma exposed to welding
AU - Banga, Amit
AU - Reilly, Mary Jo
AU - Rosenman, Kenneth D.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (grant 5U60 OH008466) .
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Objective: To describe the characteristics of subjects with work-related asthma (WRA) secondary to welding exposure. Methods: As part of statewide surveillance, WRA reports were received from health care professionals. These reports were followed up with a telephonic interview using a standardized questionnaire; lung function tests were reviewed, and final assessment regarding the diagnosis was made. Results: Welding exposure was the fifth leading cause of WRA (n = 142; age, 43.3 ± 11.4 years; male to female ratio, 94:48). Several workers (n = 72) were nonwelders but all worked around welding fumes. More than a third had predicted forced expiratory volume in one second less than 80% (38 of 106, 35.8%). Most had sought medical treatment (95.8%) and had emergency room visits (n = 86, 60.6%), and several had required hospitalization (n = 50, 36.7%). Conclusion: Welding exposure is a common cause of WRA. It is seen in workers from different industries engaged in diverse jobs. Spirometry changes are common. Work-related asthma is associated with high morbidity and health care costs.
AB - Objective: To describe the characteristics of subjects with work-related asthma (WRA) secondary to welding exposure. Methods: As part of statewide surveillance, WRA reports were received from health care professionals. These reports were followed up with a telephonic interview using a standardized questionnaire; lung function tests were reviewed, and final assessment regarding the diagnosis was made. Results: Welding exposure was the fifth leading cause of WRA (n = 142; age, 43.3 ± 11.4 years; male to female ratio, 94:48). Several workers (n = 72) were nonwelders but all worked around welding fumes. More than a third had predicted forced expiratory volume in one second less than 80% (38 of 106, 35.8%). Most had sought medical treatment (95.8%) and had emergency room visits (n = 86, 60.6%), and several had required hospitalization (n = 50, 36.7%). Conclusion: Welding exposure is a common cause of WRA. It is seen in workers from different industries engaged in diverse jobs. Spirometry changes are common. Work-related asthma is associated with high morbidity and health care costs.
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U2 - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31820fd0c3
DO - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31820fd0c3
M3 - Article
C2 - 21407099
AN - SCOPUS:79955074814
SN - 1076-2752
VL - 53
SP - 415
EP - 419
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
IS - 4
ER -