Respiratory effects of prolonged exposure to gypsum dust.

Abstract

Chest X-rays, lung function tests, respiratory symptom questionnaires and work histories were used in a survey of 241 men employed between November 1976 and December 1977 as underground workers in four gypsum mines, two each in Nottinghamshire and in Sussex. The 221 radiographs which were obtained were read independently to the ILO/UC Classification by three readers. Function tests performed on 191 workers included FEV1? FVC, Transfer Factor and Flow Volumes. Detailed work histories were constructed and jobs were rated on a 20-point scale according to exposure. Environmental data were then used to convert these exposure ratings into estimated exposures to respirable dust and to silica. In Sussex, where the silica content of dust was high, definite though mild pneumoconiotic changes (mostly small rounded opacities) were recorded in nearly a third of the long service miners; in Nottinghamshire, where the silica content was low, the proportion affected was much less. The lung function tests showed a modest decline in both counties associated with length of service (after standardizing for age). The analysis of symptoms gave no indication of any exposure-related effect.