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Exposure to ozone and other irritant gasses in pulp mills and the onset of rhinitis.

Hoffman-C; Henneberger-PK; Olin-AC; Toren-K

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002 Apr; 165(8)(Suppl):A526

http://www.atsjournals.org/toc/ajrccm/165/8

20022982

To examine the effect of exposure to gassings of ozone, chlorine dioxide, or sulphur dioxide on rhinitis onset among pulp mill workers. Workers from two sulphate pulp mills (n=I04) and two control paper mills, which had no gassing events (n=68), were included in the study. Rhinitis was self- reported and defined as ever having, since age 15, nasal problems such as nasal obstruction or sneezing apart from a cold. Gassings were self-reported as exposure to the gases resulting in coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, or pain in the thorax. Proportional hazard regression was used to model rhinitis onset while controlling for potential confounders. The incidence of rhinitis was greater for sulphate pulp mill workers exposed to ozone gassings versus paper mill workers (44 cases/IO' person-years versus 21 cases/IO', respectively), and the corresponding hazard ratio (HR) from regression analysis was 3.4, 95% CI 1.3,8.7. The sulphate workers not exposed to an ozone gassing were not found to be at an increased risk (HR 0.9,95% CI 0.3, 2.4). Also, a report of gassing with any of the three irritant gases (including ozone) was not related to rhinitis onset (HR 1.2, 95% CI 0.5,3.1). Sulphate pulp mill workers exposed to ozone gassings are at increased risk of rhinitis.

Pulp-industry; Gases; Chlorine-compounds; Nasal-disorders; Nasal-cavity; Occupational-exposure; Respiratory-system-disorders; Respiratory-irritants; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Sulfur-compounds

AJCMED

10028-15-6; 10049-04-4; 7446-09-5

20020401

Abstract; Conference/Symposia Proceedings

2002

8

1073-449X

Other Occupational Concerns

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2002 International Conference, The American Thoracic Society, Atlanta Georgia, May 17-22, 2002

WV