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- Title
Decoding Occupational History from Total Lung Particulate Analysis: Concordance Between Physico-Chemical Analysis and Occupational Histories.
- Authors
Case, B. W.; Dufresne, A.; Fraser, R.; Siemiatycki, J.; Perrault, G.; Takahashl, K.
- Abstract
Detailed occupational and smoking histories collected during interviews of a group of male cancer patients aged 35–70 years in an epidemiological study were coded as types and levels of occupational and cigarette exposure. Results were compared to physico-chemical analysis of fibrous and non-fibrous particles extracted from the pulmonary parenchyma of a subset of 42 subjects for whom autopsy or surgically resected lungs were available. To the degree possible, each approach (occupational history and lung analysis) tried to focus on one of five main exposure categories as a means of grouping patients and verifying correlation of the two approaches. Ten workers were exposed mainly, but not exclusively, to asbestos fibres; 10 to silica and/or silicates; and 10 to metal dusts and/or fumes. An additional six smokers and six non-smokers—all without substantial work exposures—constituted the final two groups for study. A hierarchical scheme was designed to attempt to place lung analytic in five groups corresponding to those for occupational history. In addition, Kappa (κ) tests were performed on the two data sets. Overall Kappa for occupationally coded inorganics and lung content approached significance (P < 0.10) but was compromised by group heterogeneity in exposure and in time since last exposure. Kappas for individual groups revealed significant correlation between the work history and physico-chemical analysis estimators for subjects exposed to asbestos fibre (κ = 0.475, P = 0.001) and the group of unexposed non-smokers (κ = 0.417, P = 0.003). Those with silica exposure approached a significant correlation between work history and lung analysis (κ = 0.213, P = 0.089). Lung particle concentrations consistently associated with exposures included total asbestos fibre concentrations with asbestos work history and a significant dose-related excess of titaniumcontaining particles in smokers. Limits of concordance between industrial hygiene (job) data and lung burden are related to heterogeneity of workplace exposures, variation in time since last exposure, effects of smoking on deposition and clearance, technical factors in the analysis such as particle size criteria, and in some cases rapid clearance from the lung.
- Publication
Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1994, Vol 38, p469
- ISSN
0003-4878
- Publication type
Article