Effects of smoking on pulmonary function and symptomatology in occupationally exposed groups.

Records of 3006 employees of nine companies in southeast Texas screened by a local lung association during the years 1974-1975 were examined to assess the effect of smoking, age, and occupational and residential ambient air pollution exposure. The effects of smoking and occupational exposure were strong when tested against a respiratory morbidity response questionnaire considered to be diagnostic for early-stage bronchitis. Occupational exposure lost statistical significance after place of residence was controlled in the analysis. Smoking and age variables exhibited significant effects when the response variable was pulmonary function test results. The differences between questionnaire and pulmonary function test results may indicate early-stage vs. later-stage respiratory morbidity ascertainment. Agreement in classifying "abnormal" subjects with these two methods decreased with increasing levels of smoking.

Hexachlorobenzene blood levels and the health status of men employed in the manufacture of chlorinated solvents.

Men employed in chlorinated solvents manufacture were followed for 1--4 yr and found to have mean hexachlorobenzene blood levels of 311 ppb in 1974 (n = 50), 312 ppb in 1975 (n = 49), 160 ppb in 1976 (n = 49), and 170 ppb in 1977 (n = 44). Evaluation of urinary porphyrins and several other laboratory test results did not reveal evidence of porphyria cutanea tarda or other adverse effect associated with exposure to hexachlorobenzene. The hexachlorobenzene blood levels were strongly associated with years worked in the chlorinated solvents plant but poorly correlated with environmental measurements.

A fertility study of male employees engaged in the manufacture of glycerine.

The fertility status of male employees engaged in the production of chlorinated three-carbon compounds at Dow Chemical Company's Texas Division was investigated. Males who had not worked in the production of industrial chemicals for at least five years prior to the study period served as controls. Data were obtained from a reproductive medical history, from hormone determinations, from a physician's examination, and from a semen analysis. Sperm counts and percent normal sperm forms were major study variables. Comparisons were made between the control and the study groups and within the study group only for duration of exposure, strength of exposure and a combination of the two. Specific chemical exposure subgroups within the study group were also compared. Although the participation rate for the exposed group was relatively low (64%), results indicated no detrimental effect on fertility from exposure to chlorinated three-carbon compounds at levels occurring in the specified work environment.