Table 6

Adjusted effects on lung function related to exposure to glass microfibers in all factory workers, by the level of microfiber exposure and exposure to sensitizing chemicals

Lung function parameter

All factory workers^‡

N = 102

Low MF level^‡

N = 38

High MF level^‡

N = 64

Exposure to any sensitizer^§

N = 19

β

95% CI

β

95% CI

β

95% CI

β

95% CI

FEV1* (liter)

0.05

-0.10 to 0.20

0.13

-0.04 to 0.31

-0.01

-0.18 to 0.15

0.24

0.04 to 0.43

FVC* (liter)

0.14

-0.02 to 0.30

0.19

-0.007 to 0.38

0.10

-0.07 to 0.29

0.29

0.08 to 0.50

FEV1%pred^†

1.20

-3.35 to 5.75

2.68

-2.74 to 8.11

-0.05

-5.24 to 5.14

4.64

-1.53 to 10.80

FVC%pred^†

1.81

-2.33 to 5.94

1.85

-3.09 to 6.79

1.77

-2.95 to 6.49

4.37

-1.23 to 9.98

* Effect estimates adjusted for sex, age, height, education, and smoking

^†Effect estimates adjusted for education and smoking. The predicted values controlled for age and height. They were calculated separately for men and women

^‡Compared to office workers (OR = 1 in this reference category).

^§Compared to office workers and factory workers with no exposure to sensitizers (OR = 1 in this reference category)

MF = glass microfiber exposure

Sripaiboonkij et al. Environmental Health 2009 8:36   doi:10.1186/1476-069X-8-36