Glass fibres: absence of pulmonary hazard in production workers

Abstract

Hill, J. W., Whitehead, W. S., Cameron, J. D., and Hedgecock, G. A. (1973).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 174-179. Glass fibres: absence of pulmonary hazard in production workers. Seventy fibreglass workers with a mean of 19·85 years in the industry are compared with a control group having no exposure to glass fibre but otherwise matched for age, sex, height, and weight, and residing in the same geographical area.

Comparison was made by radiography, the administration of the modified Medical Research Council Short Questionnaire on Respiratory Symptoms (1960), amplified to include a detailed occupational history, and measurement of peak expiratory flow, FEV₁, and FVC.

Statistical analysis showed the control group to be at a slight disadvantage compared to the subject group in respect of complaints of phlegm and FVC. No evidence of any respiratory hazard due to glass fibre is shown.