Clinical Trial: Specialized Center of Research in Occupational and Immunologic Lung Disease
Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational
Official Title:
Brief Summary:
The overall objective of the Center was to develop a scientific data base for the control and prevention of acute and chronic lung injury caused by the inhalation of a variety of agents in the workplace and in the environment. There were two epidemiologic studies.
Respiratory Effects of Exposures to Irritant Gases: To collect longitudinal lung function and symptom data in chemical manufacturing workers who were exposed to chemical irritants such as ammonia, chlorine, phosgene, isocyanates, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, formaldehyde, organic acids, hydrochloric acid fluorides, other aldehydes, and acid anhydrides.
Workers in the Cotton Textile Industry: To detect and quantitate the risk for the development of chronic obstructive airways disease which occurred in workers exposed to cotton dust in textile manufacturing.
Detailed Summary:
BACKGROUND:
The two projects were part of a Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) in Occupational and Immunologic Lung Disease. Since its inception in 1972, researchers in the SCOR have conducted epidemiologic studies on asbestosis, silicosis in sandblasters, and respiratory reactions in workers exposed to detergent enzymes and polyvinyl chloride film fumes.
Irritant gases and vapors are utilized in herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, household cleaners, explosives, fertilizers, refrigeration, plastics, paints, fumigants and a variety of other products. These chemicals are produced and used immediately or shipped to end-users. The potential for chemical accidents is great. A report for the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 6,928 chemical accidents have occurred in the United States since 1980, an average of five accidents each day. As a result, 1,500 people were injured and 135 killed. More information was needed on the consequences of chemically-induced sublethal acute lung injury and on the long term outcome of chemical vapor/gas specific injury in order to differentially treat exposure to these chemicals.
Byssinosis has been recognized as a respiratory disorder associated with cotton dust exposure for more than two centuries. This respiratory disorder is characterized by the clinical symptoms of bronchoconstriction with work week periodicity and later by a decline in lung function over the working shift, most marked following an absence from the job. Byssinosis risk is probably influenced by length of exposure and type of mill such as textile mill, cottonseed oil crushing mill, or ginning mill. Prevalence seems not to be influenced by age, sex, or race. This study attempted to answer the question whether long-term exposure to cotton textile dust led to
Sponsor: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Current Primary Outcome:
Original Primary Outcome:
Current Secondary Outcome:
Original Secondary Outcome:
Information By: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Dates:
Date Received: May 25, 2000
Date Started: June 1972
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 12, 2016
Last Verified: March 2005
