Respiratory Disease in Aggregate Quarry Workers Related to Risk Factors and Pi Phenotype

Objective: To evaluate the respiratory health and its relationship with exposure to silica, smoking, α 1-antitrypsin, and Pi phenotype in aggregate quarries workers. Methods: In a prevalence study, 378 subjects were studied, x-ray opacities and pulmonary function was analyzed in relation to cumulative dust exposure, smoking, α1-antitrypsin, and Pi phenotype. Results: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of round opacities (≥0/1) was significantly related to smoking (P < 0.001). The predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) percentage had a negative relationship with the product dust pack-years (P = 0.005). The OR of FEV₁