Primary |
Sorgdrager |
1998 |
Netherlands |
LMW |
Metals |
Aluminum |
Aluminum workers |
Occupational asthma |
Reduction in exposure through improved technology (1974), health surveillance (1982-1990) Monitoring of dust and flouride levels in the working atmosphere. Improved technology consisted of hooded pots, pots cleaned by dry-scrubbing process, high-exposure tasks performed by computer-controlled robots, and use of ventilated cabin or antidust mask for other tasks. Health surveillance consisted of pre-employment examination (using bronchial reactivity), and annual spirometry, questionnaire, urinary analysis of fluoride uptake. |
2845 person-years of observation between 1970 and 1990 Limitation: no report of participation rate |
The incidence density of potroom asthma increased from 7.1 per 100 person-years during 1970-1975 to 11.6 per 100 person-years during 1976-1981, and then decreased to 2.5 per 100 person-years during 1982-1990. No exposure data recorded during 1970-1975. |