Does working in an extremely cold environment affects lung function?: 10 years follow‑up

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is an association between brief but repeated exposures to extremely cold temperatures over many years and pulmonary function.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the data collected over 10 years in the context of the extended medical examinations of storeworkers exposed to extremely cold temperatures. We considered forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), Tiffeneau-Pinelli index (FEV1/FVC), CO diffusion capacity (DL,CO) and Krogh-factor (CO diffusion capacity relative to recorded alveolar volume, DL,CO/VA) reported as %-predicted. We analysed trends in outcome parameters with linear mixed models.

RESULTS: 46 male workers participated in at least two extended medical examinations between 2007 and 2017. Overall 398 measure points were available. All lung function parameters had values above the lower limit of normality at the first examination. In the multivariate model including smoking status and monthly intensity of cold exposure (≤ 16 h/month vs. > 16 h/month) FEV1%-predicted and FVC %-predicted had a statistically significant positive slope (FEV1, 0.32% 95% CI 0.16% to 0.49% p < 0.001; FVC 0.43% 95% CI 0.28% to 0.57% p < 0.001). The other lung function parameters (FEV1/FVC %-predicted, DL,CO %-predicted, DL,CO/VA %-predicted) showed no statistically significant change over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Long term intermittent occupational exposure to extreme cold temperatures (-55 °C) does not appear to cause irreversible deleterious changes in lung function in healthy workers, thus the development of obstructive or restrictive lung diseases is not expected.