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Styrene-associated health outcomes at a windblade manufacturing plant.

ABSTRACT: Health risks of using styrene to manufacture windblades for the green energy sector are unknown.Using data collected from 355 (73%) current windblade workers and regression analysis, we investigated associations between health outcomes and styrene exposure estimates derived from urinary styrene metabolites.The median current styrene exposure was 53.6?mg/g creatinine (interquartile range: 19.5-94.4). Color blindness in men and women (standardized morbidity ratios 2.3 and 16.6, respectively) was not associated with exposure estimates, but was the type previously reported with styrene. Visual contrast sensitivity decreased and chest tightness increased (odds ratio 2.9) with increasing current exposure. Decreases in spirometric parameters and FeNO, and increases in the odds of wheeze and asthma-like symptoms (odds ratios 1.3 and 1.2, respectively) occurred with increasing cumulative exposure.Despite styrene exposures below the recommended 400?mg/g creatinine, visual and respiratory effects indicate the need for additional preventative measures in this industry.

SUBMITTER: McCague AB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4618383 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Styrene-associated health outcomes at a windblade manufacturing plant.

McCague Anna-Binney AB Cox-Ganser Jean M JM Harney Joshua M JM Alwis K Udeni KU Blount Benjamin C BC Cummings Kristin J KJ Edwards Nicole N Kreiss Kathleen K

American journal of industrial medicine 20150825 11

<h4>Background</h4>Health risks of using styrene to manufacture windblades for the green energy sector are unknown.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data collected from 355 (73%) current windblade workers and regression analysis, we investigated associations between health outcomes and styrene exposure estimates derived from urinary styrene metabolites.<h4>Results</h4>The median current styrene exposure was 53.6 mg/g creatinine (interquartile range: 19.5-94.4). Color blindness in men and women (standardized ...[more]

PMID: 26305283

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Dataset Information

Styrene-associated health outcomes at a windblade manufacturing plant.

Publications

Styrene-associated health outcomes at a windblade manufacturing plant.

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