Pulmonary function in commercial glass blowers.

Abstract

This study examined the pulmonary function of 87 male commercial glass factory workers. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that workers with full-time glass blowing job descriptions had significantly higher percent predicted values for FVC, FEV1 and significantly higher maximal inspiratory and expiratory muscle pressures than their cohorts with minimal or nonglass blowing job descriptions. The results of this study indicate that persons using their respiratory muscles as full-time blowers to manufacture commercial blown glass products have significantly greater lung function values than part-time blowers or their nonglass blowing co-workers.