Pulmonary Function in Fur-Processing Workers: A Dose-Response Relationship

Abstract

Pulmonary function tests were conducted in 212 male workers exposed to fur dust in a fur-processing factory, and in 148 unexposed male workers. The authors used the cumulative dose of dust exposure (mg-yr) as an exposure index to relate to pulmonary function injury, as measured by pulmonary function tests, in exposed workers. The results showed that fur workers had lower percentages of predicted pulmonary function, as measured by forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV_1.0), and maximal flow rate of expiration at 50% and 25% of forced vital capacity (V₅₀ and V₂₅, respectively), compared with controls (p < 0.01). As the cumulative dose of fur dust exposure increased, average levels of pulmonary function declined significantly (p < 0.01), and pulmonary function abnormalities (i.e., < 80% of predicted FVC and FEV_1.0, or < 70% of predicted V₅₀ and V₂₅) increased significantly (p < 0.05). Multiple-regression results identified fur dust exposure as the leading risk factor associated with the decline in pulmonary function in the exposed group. The results demonstrated a dose-response relationship between fur dust exposure and respiratory system injury, as measured by pulmonary function tests in fur-processing workers. On the basis of this dose-response relationship and the use of life-tables, the authors proposed an exposure limit of 4 mg/m³ for fur dust.

Keywords:

• dose-response
• exposure limit
• fur dust
• pulmonary function