Short-term lung function decline in tunnel construction workers. Issue 2 (30th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ulvestad, Bente; Lund, May Brit; Bakke, Berit; Thomassen, Yngvar; Ellingsen, Dag G
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 72:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 113
• Publication Date: 2014-10-30
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2014-102262
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Tunnel construction workers are exposed to particulate and gaseous air contaminants. Previous studies carried out in the 1990s showed that tunnel construction workers were at increased risk of both short-term and long-term lung function decline. Since then, efforts have been made to reduce exposure. The objective of the present study was to investigate if current exposure may still cause short-term lung function impairment. Methods: Tunnel workers work 12 days consecutively, and then they are off for 9 days. Ninety tunnel workers and 51 referents were examined with spirometry and questionnaires before their work period started and again 11 days later. Personal exposure to particles and α-quartz in the thoracic aerosol subfraction, elemental carbon and organic carbon, oil mist, nitrogen dioxide and ammonia was assessed on two consecutive days between the two health examinations. Results: The geometric means air concentrations for particulate matter in the thoracic mass aerosol subfraction, α-quartz, oil mist, organic carbon and elemental carbon for all workers were 561, 63, 210, 146 and 35 μg/m 3, respectively. After 11 days of work, the mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) in healthy participants had declined 73 mL (SD 173), p<0.001 in the tunnel workers, compared to 3 mL (SD 21), p=0.9 in the referents. Also, forced vital capacity (FVC) had declined significantly. Declines in FVC and FEV1 were significantly associated with exposure to organic carbon. Conclusions: In spite of reduced levels of exposure in modern tunnelling operations, a negative impact on lung function was still observed.