Ernst P, Shapiro S, Dales R E, Becklake M R
Br J Ind Med. 1987 Feb;44(2):90-5. doi: 10.1136/oem.44.2.90.
The determinants of respiratory symptoms were studied in an active workforce of insulation workers exposed to asbestos and synthetic mineral fibres. Responses to a mailed respiratory symptom questionnaire from 537 insulation workers without diagnosed asbestosis were analysed using logistic regression. Wheezing complaints and breathlessness were related primarily to current cigarette smoking and to symptoms suggesting an asthmatic predisposition antedating work in the trade. There was also evidence that these complaints were related to occupational exposure (estimated by number of hours worked in the trade) in subjects with prior airways hyperreactivity. An asthmatic predisposition antedating work in the trade was the major determinant of acute respiratory symptoms in the workplace. The effects of workplace exposures on respiratory symptoms may have been underestimated due to selective withdrawal from the active workforce and due to inaccuracies in the measure of exposure used.
在一个接触石棉和合成矿物纤维的在职绝缘工人队列中研究了呼吸道症状的决定因素。对537名未被诊断为石棉肺的绝缘工人邮寄的呼吸道症状问卷的回复进行了逻辑回归分析。喘息主诉和呼吸困难主要与当前吸烟以及与提示在该行业工作前就有哮喘易感性的症状有关。也有证据表明，在有既往气道高反应性的受试者中，这些主诉与职业暴露（通过该行业工作小时数估算）有关。在该行业工作前就有的哮喘易感性是工作场所急性呼吸道症状的主要决定因素。由于从在职劳动力中选择性退出以及所用暴露测量方法的不准确，工作场所暴露对呼吸道症状的影响可能被低估了。
