Specialized Center of Research in Occupational and Immunologic Lung Disease

BACKGROUND:

The two projects were part of a Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) in Occupational and Immunologic Lung Disease. Since its inception in 1972, researchers in the SCOR have conducted epidemiologic studies on asbestosis, silicosis in sandblasters, and respiratory reactions in workers exposed to detergent enzymes and polyvinyl chloride film fumes.

Irritant gases and vapors are utilized in herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, household cleaners, explosives, fertilizers, refrigeration, plastics, paints, fumigants and a variety of other products. These chemicals are produced and used immediately or shipped to end-users. The potential for chemical accidents is great. A report for the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 6,928 chemical accidents have occurred in the United States since 1980, an average of five accidents each day. As a result, 1,500 people were injured and 135 killed. More information was needed on the consequences of chemically-induced sublethal acute lung injury and on the long term outcome of chemical vapor/gas specific injury in order to differentially treat exposure to these chemicals.

Byssinosis has been recognized as a respiratory disorder associated with cotton dust exposure for more than two centuries. This respiratory disorder is characterized by the clinical symptoms of bronchoconstriction with work week periodicity and later by a decline in lung function over the working shift, most marked following an absence from the job. Byssinosis risk is probably influenced by length of exposure and type of mill such as textile mill, cottonseed oil crushing mill, or ginning mill. Prevalence seems not to be influenced by age, sex, or race. This study attempted to answer the question whether long-term exposure to cotton textile dust led to clinically important pulmonary functional impairment.

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