A respiratory epidemiological survey of workers in a small South African foundry

✍ Scribed by J. E. Myers; D. Garisch; H. S. Myers; J. E. Cornell

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 574 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.4700120102

✦ Synopsis

A cross-sectional study to assess prevalence of respiratory abnormality was conducted among 107 South African foundry workers. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 10.3% overall, increasing to 38% for workers with more than 15 years of service. Dyspnea was present in 38% of workers, chronic simple bronchitis in 15.9%, and asthmatic symptoms in 27 % . Pneumoconiosis was not associated with higher prevalence rates of other respiratory abnormalities. The high overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms might be explained by exposure to environmental pollutants other than dust.