RESPIRATORY SURVEY OF WORKERS IN A PULP AND PAPER-MILL IN POWELL RIVER, BRITISH-COLUMBIA

Abstract

A respiratory survey was carried out in 1932 workers in the pulp and paper mill in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. The survey included a medical-occupational questionnaire, spirometry, chest radiographs and environmental monitoring. Results obtained in 1826 white male workers were analyzed. The workers were divided into 6 groups according to the type of exposure at work: subjects in group 1 were mainly exposed to gases, vapors and chemicals in the kraft mill; group 2, to wood dust; group 3, to paper dust; group 4, to CO; group 5, to all kinds of air contaminants; group 6 (control subjects), to much lower levels of various air contaminants at work. There was no increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function abnormalities among workers exposed to gases and chemicals in the kraft mill. Workers exposed to wood dust had slightly but significantly lower pulmonary function compared to other groups. Although cigarette smoking had a significant deleterious effect on pulmonary function, as expected, alcohol consumption affected pulmonary function. Among nonsmokers those who admitted to having more than 3 drinks/day had significantly lower pulmonary function than those who had no drinks, or fewer than 3 drinks/day during the previous week. Among current smokers and ex-smokers the effect of alcohol consumption on pulmonary function was not significant. Concentrations of SO2, H2S and Cl encountered in Powell River were low, well below the currently accepted threshold limit values and this may account for these negative findings. Similar studies should be carried out in other pulp and paper mills in British Columbia to establish whether the currently accepted threshold limit values for these gases are adequate.