Information session presentation

Understanding Long-term Respiratory Morbidity Among Former Styrene-Exposed Workers: Medical Survey

Suzanne Tomasi, DVM, MPH, DACVPM

Epidemiologist
Field Studies Branch

Respiratory Health Division

Month XX, 2020

 

Objectives

• Review previous industrial hygiene and mortalities studies from boatbuilders exposed to styrene 

• Review the known health effects from styrene exposure 

• Introduce a new NIOSH study involving workers with previous
  styrene exposure 

 

Who is NIOSH?

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a federal public health agency and is a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  

• NIOSH is responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illnesses and injuries 

• NIOSH is not part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and does not enforce workplace health and safety laws 

 

Why has NIOSH invited me?

• You worked at either Uniflite or Tollycraft during 1959 and 1978 

• You are part of the NIOSH boatbuilder cohort 

 

What is styrene?

• Synthetic chemical used in the manufacturing of reinforced plastics and synthetic rubbers 

• In 2008, over 12 billion pounds of styrene were produced in the U.S. 

• 90,000 workers are exposed to styrene at 5,000 U.S. manufacturing plants 

 

• NIOSH recommended exposure limit is 50 parts per million  

 

How are workers exposed to styrene?

• Inhalation 

• Skin absorption 

• Ingestion 

 

What are known health effects of styrene exposure?

• Color vision changes 

• Hearing loss 

• Cognitive impairment 

• Cancer 

• Non-malignant respiratory diseases 

 

What have previous studies told us?

• Mortality analyses for a boatbuilder cohort of 5,204 workers 

• • –2,063 had high styrene exposure 

  • –3,141 had minimal styrene exposure 

  • –Individuals who worked in Fibrous glass or Lamination department
    had high styrene exposure 

  • –Mean 8-hour styrene concentrations for all high-exposure jobs in
    the two plants were 42.5 and 71.7 parts per million  

  • –High styrene-exposed workers had two times higher death rate from COPD compared with general population 

 

What have previous studies told us?

• Analyzed 157 decedents from the boatbuilder cohort 

• • –Investigated workers who died at age <55 years 

  • –Identified one worker who died from bronchiolitis in early 30’s  

  • –Identified nine workers who died from COPD at age <55 years 

• Published a paper that identified multiple cases of respiratory
  disease among styrene-exposed workers 

 

What’s next?

• Conducting a research study to understand the long-term respiratory health effects among styrene-exposed workers 

• Developing effective prevention strategies for current and future
  styrene-exposed workers 

 

What will I be asked to do if I participate?

• Questionnaire 

• Color Vision Test 

• Blood Test 

• Breathing tests 

 

When, where, for how long will you need me?

• Month XX, 20XX or Month XX, 20XX 

• Location 

• Two and a half hours 

 

What are the benefits?

• Results beneficial to current and future styrene-exposed workers 

Will I be reimbursed or paid?

• $50 gift card  

 

What are the risks?

• Discomfort due to medical tests 

• Recommendations for further medical tests by your personal
  healthcare provider  

• Unintentional disclosure of personal identifiable information 

 

What precautions will NIOSH take to minimize risks?

• Confirm participants’ contradiction to any medical procedures 

• Use trained phlebotomists for blood draw 

• Provide list of free and income-based clinics 

• Store personal identifiable information securely 

 

Is my participation voluntary?

• Your participation is voluntary 

• You may participate in some or all study procedures offered 

• You may drop out of the study at any time without penalty 

 

What will happen with the results of the study?

• Present study findings  

• • –Boat builder cohorts 

  • –Labor unions 

  • –Scientific research communities 

• Develop effective prevention strategies for current and future
  styrene-exposed workers 

 

Will my personal information be kept private?

• Certificate of Confidentiality 

• Not reveal information without consent 

• Store personal identifiable information securely 

 

You have the opportunity to directly ask us the questions about the study and your participation

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