Effects of grain dust on lungs prior to and following dust remediation

Abstract

Objective: To determine longitudinal estimates of pulmonary function decline in Canadian grain elevator workers before and after dust control by analyzing data collected from five regions of Canada over 15 years.

Methods: Declines in forced expired volume in one second and forced vital capacity before and after dust control were estimated by using a generalized estimating equations approach.

Results: For grain workers who were in the grain industry for 20 or more years both before and after dust control: the mean annual loss of forced expired volume in one second was greatest among current smoking grain workers followed by ex-smokers and nonsmokers, respectively. Similar results were obtained for forced vital capacity.

Conclusions: Grain dust control was effective in reducing decline in the lung function measurements among grain workers in all smoking and exposure categories.