PULMONARY FUNCTION AND RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS IN A POPULATION OF AIRPORT WORKERS

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to measure spirometry in a sample of employees at an airport in the U.K., to examine whether occupational exposure to aircraft fuel or jet stream exhaust might be associated with respiratory symptoms or abnormalities of lung function. On-site measurements of lung function, skin prick tests, and exhaled CO concentrations were taken, and cross-sectional surveys were administered by questionnaire. Occupational exposure was assigned by job title; between group comparisons were made by logistic regression analysis. 222 of 680 full-time employees were studied. Upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms were common and 51% had 1 or more positive skin tests. There were no significant differences in lung function tests between exposure groups. Between group comparisons of respiratory symptoms were restricted to males in medium- and high-exposure groups. The adjusted odds ratio for cough with phlegm and runny nose were found to be significantly associated with high exposure when the measured confounding effects of age, smoking, and self-reported hay fever had been accounted for. There was no obvious association between high exposure and shortness of breath/wheeze or for watering eyes or stuffy nose. Findings support an association in male airport workers, between high occupational exposures to aviation fuel/jet stream exhaust and excess upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms, in keeping with a respiratory irritant. It is more likely that these effects reflect exposure to exhaust rather than fuel, although the effects of an unmeasured agent are possible.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13510711
• Corporate Authors:

  BMJ Publishing Group

  BMJ House, Tavistock Square
  London WC1H 9JR,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Tunnicliffe, W S
  • O'Hickey, S P
  • Fletcher, T J
  • Miles, J F
  • Burge, P S
  • Ayres, J G
• Publication Date: 1999-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 118-123
• Serial:
  • Occupational and Environmental Medicine
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
  • ISSN: 1351-0711
  • EISSN: 1470-7926
  • Serial URL: http://oem.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft exhaust gases; Aircraft fuels; Airports; Carbon monoxide; Health hazards; Lungs; Males; Occupational diseases; Occupational safety; Respiratory system
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Environment; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00798779
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 22 2000 12:00AM