Identification of subjects with occupational exposure to asbestos, quartz, and welding fumes in the general population of Telemark, Norway

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A questionnaire survey on the lifetime exposure to asbestos, quartz, and welding fumes among males aged

38-48 years (n=9,186) and females aged 40-43 years (n=3,495) in the county of Telemark, Norway was

carried out in 1989-90. The overall response rate was 72%. A total of 42.9% of the males and 39.8% of the

females were current smokers. Among the male responders, 32.5%, 16.4%, 21.1%, and 10.5% had been

exposed at any time to asbestos, quartz, welding fumes, and stainless steel welding fumes respectively. The

figures for exposure among female responders were negligible, i.e. 0.7%, 0.5%, 0.5%, and 0.1% respectively.

The mean reported duration of exposure for the exposed subjects was 9.8 years for asbestos, 8.8 years for

quartz, and 11.3 years for welding fumes. Subjects reporting any one of the exposure factors were more likely

to be smokers. Exposure at the time of the survey was reported by 13.8% among the asbestos-exposed

subjects, and by 22.7% and 34.4% among those exposed to quartz and welding fumes respectively. The need

for primary intervention is emphasized. Smoking intervention in those already exposed to any of these

determinants for lung cancer is also needed, as tobacco smoke may increase the lung cancer risk further.

Key words

: smoking, gender, combined exposures, population survey, prevalent exposure