Respiratory symptoms and lung function following exposure in workers exposed to soft paper tissue dust

The objective of this study was to investigate if the dust in a mill producing soft paper tissue caused respiratory symptoms or impaired respiratory function. Using a questionnaire and spirometry, 355 persons were examined. They were divided into three groups according to present exposure to dust; low (less than 1 mg/m3), moderate (1-5 mg/m3) and heavy (greater than 5 mg/m3). There was a dose-dependent increase of symptoms from the upper respiratory tract. However, coughing and coughing with phlegm were not found to be more common among persons with heavy exposure compared to those with low exposure to the dust. There was no difference in FEV1 or FVC during a work shift. Persons with long-term (greater than 10 years) and heavy exposure to dust seemed to have impaired respiratory function compared to those with low and/or short-term exposure to the dust.