Pulmonary Function Testing in Occupational Medical Surveillance

摘要

Pulmonary function tests as a means of surveillance of workers exposed to respiratory hazards are reviewed. Pulmonary function tests appropriate for medical surveillance are discussed. Spirometry is recommended because it is simple to administer, inexpensive, safe, sensitive, and specific. Tests for total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, airways resistance, and residual volume are useful for diagnosis of lung diseases, but are generally not appropriate for medical surveillance because of expense and complexity. A comprehensive medical and occupational questionnaire should be a part of any occupational medical surveillance program. Spirometry procedures are discussed. These tests should be conducted in accordance with the American Thoracic Society and NIOSH recommended spirometry standards. Technicians who administer pulmonary function tests should have completed a NIOSH approved course in spirometry. The interpretation of spirometry results is examined, and results of various spirometry studies on normal subjects are summarized. Means and the standard errors of the mean for age, height, and spirometric parameters by sex and race are tabulated.