Health Assessment Document for Diesel Emissions - NSCEP | US ...

Study
Ulfvarson et a!.
(1987)
Battigelli et a!.
(1964)
Gamble et a!.
(1987b)
Purdham et a!.
(1987)
Reger eta!. (1982)
2/1198
Table 5-1. Human studies of exposure to diesel exhaust (continued)
Description
W orkshift changes in
pulmonary function were
evaluated in crews of roll-on!
roll-off ships and car ferries
and bus garage staff.
Pulmonary function was
evaluated in six volunteers
exposed to diluted diesel
exhaust, 2.1 ppm N0 2 , and 0.6
mg/m 3 particulate matter.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
210 locomotive repairmen
exposed to diesel exhaust for an
average of9.6 years in railroad
engine houses were compared
with 154 railroad yard workers
of comparable job status but no
exposure to diesel exhaust.
283 male diesel bus garage
workers from four garages m
two cities were examined for
impaired pulmonary function
(FVC, FEV 1 , and flow rates).
Study population with a mean
tenure of9 ± 10 years S.D. was
compared to a nonexposed
blue-collar population.
Respiratory symptoms and
pulmonary function were
evaluated in 17 stevedores
exposed to both diesel and
gasoline exhausts. in car ferry
operations; control group was
11 on-site office workers.
Differences in respiratory
symptoms and pulmonary
function were assessed in
823 coal miners from six
diesel-equipped mines ,
compared to 823 matched coal
miners not exposed to diesel
exhaust.
Findings
Pulmonary function was affected during a
workshift exposure to diesel exhaust, but it
normalized after a few days with no exposure.
Decrements were greater with increasing intervals
between exposures. No effect on pulmonary
function was observed in the experimental
exposure study.
No significant differences in VC, FEV 1 , peak flow,
nitrogen washout, or diffusion capacity or in the
prevalence of dyspnea, cough, or sputum were
found between the diesel exhaust-exposed and
nonexposed groups.
Analyses within the study population showed no
association of respiratory symptoms with tenure.
Reduced FEV 1 and FEF5 0 (but not FEF 75 ) were
associated with increasing tenure. The study
population had a higher incidence of cough,
phlegm, and wheezing unrelated to tenure.
Pulmonary function was not affected in the total
cohort of diesel-exposed but was reduceq with 10
or more years of tenure.
No differences between the two groups for respiratory
symptoms. Stevedores had lower baseline
lung function consistent with an obstructive
ventilatory defect compared with controls and
those of Sydney, Nova Scotia, residents. Caution
in interpretation is warranted due to small sample
size. No significant changes in lung function over
workshift or difference between two groups.
Underground miners in diesel-use mines reported
more symptoms of cough and phlegm and had
lower pulmonary function. Similar trends were
noted for surface workers at diesel-use mines.
Pattern was consistent with small airway disease
but factors other than exposure to diesel exhaust
thought to be responsible.
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