Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function in Furriers

Abstract

Forty women who had been occupationally exposed in the fur coat manufacturing industry were studied. The mean age was 30 years; mean duration of exposure was 14 years. A group of 3 1 females who did not work in the furrier industry also was included in the study as the control group. A higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms was found among furriers when compared with controls; these differences were statistically significant for nasal catarrh (p<O.O5) and sinusitis (pcO.01). Among the furriers, the highest prevalence of respiratory symptoms was recorded for chronic cough in 20 workers (50.0%), followed by sinusitis in 12 (30.0%), dyspnea in 10 (25.0%), and nasal catarrh in 8 workers (20.0%). Among the fumers, two (5.0%) had symptoms characteristic of occupational asthma. Most of the symptomatic fumers complained of acute symptoms during their work shifts.Statistically significant mean reductions in lung function over the work shift were recorded in furriers for forced vital capacity (FVC), -4.1%; one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV,), -5.2%; and flow rate at 50% vital capacity (FEFSO%), -6.3%. Furriers demonstrated significantly lower mean Monday preshift measurements for FVC and flow rate at 25% (FEF258) (pCO.05) when compared with those predicted. Preshift administration (by spinhaler) of 40 mg disodium cromoglycate in three workers reduced the intensity of acute respiratory symptoms and diminished the reductions in ventilatory capacity over the work shift. Data from six additional male workers demonstrated similar findings for symptoms and lung function.Our data suggest that furriers are at risk of developing both acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as ventilatory capacity impairment as a result of occupational exposure.

Respiratory function in shoe manufacturing workers

“…Among the chronic symptoms, the prevalences of dyspnea, chest tightness, and nasal catarrh were particularly pronounced in our exposed workers. The data on respiratory function in our leather shoe workers suggests prevalences comparable to those of textile workers exposed to organic dusts such as cotton, hemp, and fur [Zuskin et al, 1988[Zuskin et al, , 1992[Zuskin et al, , 1994Schachter et al, 1989]. Lung diseases associated with occupational exposures to different noxious agents result in at least four distinct clinical syndromes: industrial bronchitis, reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS), bronchiolitis obliterans, and occupational asthma [Barnes, 1989;Schachter, 1991;Witek and Schachter, 1992].…”

Respiratory Effects of Chronic Animal Feed Dust Exposure

“…There was no correlation between the number of working years and the mean PFT (predicted %) for FVC, FEV 1 , PEF, FEF 25 , and FEF (r=-0.033, r=-0.032, r=0.048, r=0.013 and r=-0.092 respectively).…”

“…Changes in lung function have been reported in farmers 23) , textile workers 4) , cocoa workers 24) , fur workers 25) and spice factory workers 26) . In our study, however, the chronic effect of animal feed dust was investigated so we applied the PFTs only once to the workers.…”

“…Multiple regression analysis showed that the predicted 25 were significantly lower in male workers independent of age and smoking condition.…”

Respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function and allergy to fur animals among fur farmers and fur garment workers

“…A Croatian study indicated that work in the fur industry may be associated with the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of ventilatory capacity in some workers (2). In an earlier Finnish crosssectional study cough and shortness of breath were more frequent among fur farmers than among referents (3).…”