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Abstract

Grant Number:	1R21OH007718-01
Project Title:	Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Risks in Carpenter

PI Information:	Name	Email	Title
	WEGMAN, DAVID H.	david_wegman@uml.edu

Abstract: DESCRIPTION: Evidence of a relationship between occupational dust exposures and chronic airways disease including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been demonstrated in a number of studies in occupational and community settings. Apart from studies focused on the classical dusty trades, however, very little is known about the possibility of risk from more moderate exposures to a diverse mixture of different types of particulates, Evidence is mounting for mechanisms that might underlie a relatively non-specific toxic effect from particulate exposures. In addition to respiratory tract irritation, high particulate exposures can overload the clearance mechanisms of the lung, producing a cascade of responses that may culminate in chronic lung injury. To contribute to the study of risk associated with exposure to a mixture of particulates, we propose to target a working population of union carpenters. Carpenters have a diversity of aerosol (wood dust being only one) and chemical exposures and excess risk for pulmonary disease. Apart from studies of occupational asthma there have been few investigations of respiratory disease associated with this trade, despite the fact that carpentry is one of the largest specialty trade among construction workers. The proposed study is therefore designed as a pilot investigation of the risk among carpenters of chronic airway obstruction other than asthma. The specific objectives of this pilot study are to develop and evaluate methods to: 1) identify incident cases of COPD in the Carpenters Combined Benefits Fund of Massachusetts medical insurance records data base; and 2) assess a diverse range of different aerosol and gas exposures occurring in carpenters' jobs. The outcome of the pilot study will be methods that can be applied in a subsequent case control investigation designed to provide quantitative data on the associations between COPD and different aerosol exposures experienced by carpenters. The case control study will be the subject of a separate proposal, contingent upon successful development of the necessary methods.

Public Health Relevance:
This Public Health Relevance is not available.

Thesaurus Terms:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, occupational disease /disorder, occupational hazard, respiratory disorder epidemiology
disease /disorder proneness /risk, dust, environmental exposure, health insurance, pneumoconiosis
clinical research, human data, questionnaire

Institution:	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
	600 Suffolk Street
	LOWELL, MA 01854
Fiscal Year:	2002
Department:	WORK ENVIRONMENT
Project Start:	30-SEP-2002
Project End:	29-SEP-2004
ICD:	NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
IRG:	ZOH1

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