Annual Decline in Forced Expiratory Volume is Steeper in Aluminum Potroom Workers Than in Workers Without Exposure to Potroom Fumes

BackgroundAluminum potroom exposure is associated with increased mortality of COPD but the association between potroom exposure and annual decline in lung function is unknown. We have measured lung volumes annually using spirometry from 1986 to 1996. The objective was to compare annual decline in forced expiratory volume in 1s (dFEV1) and forced vital capacity (dFVC).MethodsThe number of aluminum potroom workers was 4,546 (81% males) and the number of workers in the reference group was 651 (76% males). The number of spirometries in the index group and the references were 24,060 and 2,243, respectively.ResultsAfter adjustment for confounders, the difference in dFEV1 and dFVC between the index and reference groups were 13.5 (P<0.001) and -8.0 (P=0.060)ml/year.ConclusionAluminum potroom operators have increased annual decline in FEV1 relative to a comparable group with non-exposure to potroom fumes and gases. (c) 2016 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.