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Asthma and respiratory problems--a review

T V O'Donnell1

  • 1University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.

The Science of the Total Environment
|February 24, 1995
PubMed
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Occupational asthma in the aluminium industry is primarily caused by fluoride exposure. Interventions including respiratory protection and worker transfer significantly improve asthma symptoms and bronchial responsiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Industrial Hygiene

Background:

  • Occupational asthma is a significant health concern in the primary aluminium industry.
  • Exposure to fluoride compounds is the identified cause of irritant-induced asthma in this sector.
  • Symptomatic improvement is typically observed after removing workers from occupational fluoride exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive intervention program for managing occupational asthma in aluminium potroom workers.
  • To assess the impact of interventions on asthma symptoms and bronchial responsiveness.
  • To investigate the prevalence of other respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis and COPD in relation to workplace exposures.

Main Methods:

  • Implementation of compulsory respiratory protection for workers.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Introduction of progressive engineering controls to reduce fluoride exposure.
  • Regular screening of potroom workers for early detection of asthma.
  • Transfer of asthmatic workers from the exposure environment.
  • Assessment of bronchial responsiveness using methacholine inhalation tests.

    • Main Results:

    • Significant improvement in asthmatic symptoms among affected workers.
    • Majority of transferred workers showed improved bronchial responsiveness.
    • Slightly increased prevalence of chronic bronchitis and COPD symptoms in carbon bake areas, with tobacco smoking having an additive effect.
    • Minimal reported cases of pulmonary fibrosis linked to aluminium compounds, with particle size limiting alveolar exposure.

    Conclusions:

    • A multi-faceted intervention program effectively manages occupational asthma in the aluminium industry.
    • Engineering controls, respiratory protection, and early detection are crucial for mitigating fluoride-induced asthma.
    • While other respiratory issues exist, fluoride exposure remains the primary driver of asthma in this industry.