Styrene and methyl methacrylate in the industrial environment as a risk factor of chronic obstructive lung disease

The main objective was to assess the biological effect of styrene and methyl methacrylate on the respiratory system in the industrial population. A total of 454 males from the exposed group and 683 workers from the control group were examined. The health status of the workers was evaluated by standardized interviews on chest symptoms and lung function testing. The environmental measurements were performed in all work places where the persons under study were employed. There was practically no differences in the prevalence of chronic chest symptoms in both groups of workers but the frequency of lung obstruction appeared to be more than twice as high among the exposed persons in comparison with the controls. A large proportion of cases with lung obstruction did not show any chronic chest symptoms. It appeared from the study that the environmental factor developed a much more harmful effect on lung function than smoking, and one effect was independent of the other.