American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume 54, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 366-374

A longitudinal assessment of occupation, respiratory symptoms, and blood lead levels among latino day laborers in a non-agricultural setting (Article)

Rabito F.A.* , Perry S. , Salinas O. , Hembling J. , Schmidt N. , Parsons P.J. , Kissinger P.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • c Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • d Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • f Laboratory of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY, United States
  • g Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States

Abstract

Background: The reliance on Latino migrant day labor in the U.S. is increasing. Prospective data on day laborers' work and health experience in non-agriculture settings are lacking and outcomes are generally restricted to injury rates. Methods: An ambidirectional study was conducted to quantify the number of job and job task changes held over 12 months in a cohort of 73 migrant day laborers and assessed the relation between work type, health symptoms, and blood lead level. Results: On average, participants worked 2.4 different jobs over the past year averaging 41.5hr per week. Construction work was associated with a twofold increase in sino-nasal and respiratory symptoms in both adjusted and unadjusted models and was associated with increased blood lead levels. Conclusions: Despite day labor status, workers had relatively stable employment. Respiratory symptoms were common and often improved when away from work suggesting that workplace irritant exposure is likely. Migrant day laborers working construction are vulnerable to adverse health effects associated with irritant and lead exposure. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author Keywords

Day labor Construction Occupational health and safety Migrant workers Lead respiratory health

Index Keywords

building material longitudinal study New Orleans risk occupational disease human Longitudinal Studies Respiratory Tract Diseases Odds Ratio middle aged Lead Poisoning statistics Confidence Intervals health status Occupational Diseases respiratory tract disease Construction Materials Hispanic Americans Cross-Sectional Studies Confidence interval Young Adult United States cross-sectional study Humans workplace Hispanic Adolescent male lead female occupational exposure questionnaire Article blood Questionnaires adult migration occupational health Transients and Migrants
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79953723752&doi=10.1002%2fajim.20919&partnerID=40&md5=7348d1f60d4a7b209d91d59f764378d3
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20919
ISSN: 02713586
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English