Association between the Type of Workplace and Lung Function in Copper Miners
Table 1
Characteristics of copper miners monitored by spirometry over 25 years of work. Comparison of the welders group to the group of operators and other miners.
The first study
After 10 years
After 20 years
After 25 years
All groups ()
888
857
603
739
Age (yr), mean (SD)
29,5 4,2
39,5 4,2
48,7 3,8
54,2 4,1
Height (cm), mean (SD)
174,9 6,0
174,9 6,2
173,9 6,0
175,2 6,3
Weight (kg), median (IQR)
80,0 (72, 88)
82,0 (74, 91)
84,0 (76, 93)
86,0 (79, 95)
BMI (kg/m2), median (IQR)
26,1 (24,1, 28,4)
26,7 (24,7, 29,3)
27,7 (25, 30,1)
27,9 (25,8, 30,4)
Smokers (/%)
354/44,9%
371/43,5%
257/42,9%
280/38,0%
Period of smoking (yr)
8,1 5,6
13,1 5,9
18,8 7,0
22,3 7,8
Nonsmokers (/%)
435/55,1%
480/56,5%
341/57,1%
456/62,0%
Respiratory disease: total (coniosis/allergy) ()
15 (8/7)
14 (8/6)
8 (6/2)
15 (8/7)
Operators group ()
225
222
219
144
Age (yr), mean (SD)
26,8 3,2
36,8 3,2
46,9 3,3
52,7 3,7
Height (cm), mean (SD)
174,3 6,1
174,4 6,1
174,7 6,3
174,9 6,0
Weight (kg), median (IQR)
80,0 (71, 88)
82,0 (73, 91)
84,0 (76, 95)
87,0 (80, 96)
BMI (kg/m2), median (IQR)
25,8 (23,7, 28,6)
26,7 (24,5, 29,3)
27,5 (25, 29,9)
28,4 (26,1, 30,9)
Smokers (/%)
92/41,3%
97/44,7%
95/45,3%
47/32,6%
Nonsmokers (/%)
132/58,7%
120/55,3%
122/55,7%
97/67,4%
“Others” group ()
475
461
239
428
Age (yr), mean (SD)
30,3 3,9
40,3 3,9
49,9 4,1
53,9 3,8
Height (cm), mean (SD)
174,9 6,2
175,0 6,2
172,6 5,3
175,3 6,2
Weight (kg), median (IQR)
80,0 (72, 88)
82,0 (73, 91)
81,0 (74, 91)
86,0 (78, 95)
BMI (kg/m2), median (IQR)
26,1 (24,1, 28,4)
26,5 (24,5, 28,9)
27,5 (25, 30,1)
27,7 (25,8, 30,2)
Smokers (/%)
178/42,3%
191/42,1%
102/42,7%
170/39,5%
Nonsmokers (/%)
243/57,7%
267/57,9%
136/56,9%
257/60,5%
Welders group ()
188
174
145
167
Age (yr), mean (SD)
31,7 4,5
41,7 4,5
49,3 2,9
56,4 4,3
Height (cm), mean (SD)
175,6 5,6
174,8 6,4
174,9 6,5
174,9 6,8
Weight (kg), median (IQR)
83,0 (74, 90)
84,0 (77, 91)
86,0 (80, 95)
85,5 (78, 96)
BMI (kg/m2), median (IQR)
27,4 (25,3, 29,1)
27,4 (25,3, 27,2)
28,4 (25, 31,1)
28,1 (25,8, 30,3)
Smokers (/%)
84/58,4%
83/46,7%
60/41,9%
63/37,7%
Nonsmokers (/%)
60/41,6%
93/53,3%
83/58,1%°
104/62,3%
Statistically significant differences between welders and operators groups: < 0,05; < 0,01; < 0,001. Statistically significant differences between welders and “other” miners: < 0,05; < 0,01; < 0,001.
