Proportions of self reported airway symptoms among the exposed, partly exposed, and controls; adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are presented, controlling for age, gender, smoking habits, and work in drinking water plants
| Controls | Partly exposed | Exposed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airway symptoms | % | OR | % | OR (95% CI) | % | OR (95% CI) |
| Present during the most recent 12 months | ||||||
| Breathlessness when exposed to gases, fumes, smells | 12.6 | 1 | 19.8 | 1.8 (1.2 to 2.7) | 25.3 | 2.4 (1.8 to 3.2) |
| Breathlessness during exercise | 18.5 | 1 | 20.1 | 1.1 (0.8 to 1.6) | 25.9 | 1.6 (1.2 to 2.0) |
| Chest tightness during work shift | 8.3 | 1 | 13.3 | 1.7 (1.1 to 2.7) | 12.4 | 1.5 (1.1 to 2.2) |
| Chronic bronchitis | 4.2 | 1 | 8.0 | 2.1 (1.2 to 3.9) | 10.9 | 2.8 (1.7 to 4.5) |
| Toxic pneumonitis | 4.2 | 1 | 8.2 | 2.2 (1.2 to 4.0) | 19.3 | 5.4 (3.4 to 8.5) |
| Breathlessness when walking up stairs | 13.6 | 1 | 16.0 | 1.3 (0.9 to 1.9) | 21.9 | 1.8 (1.4 to 2.5) |
| Breathlessness when walking on plain ground | 3.2 | 1 | 3.9 | 1.5 (0.7 to 3.2) | 6.3 | 2.2 (1.3 to 3.9) |
| Breathlessness when walking with other persons of similar age | 4.2 | 1 | 6.6 | 1.9 (1.0 to 3.5) | 9.3 | 2.6 (1.6 to 4.2) |
| Wheezing chest without having a cold | 9.5 | 1 | 10.0 | 1.1 (0.7 to 1.8) | 14.7 | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.4) |
| Breathlessness during cold weather | 7.4 | 1 | 8.1 | 1.1 (0.7 to 1.9) | 10.0 | 1.4 (1.0 to 2.1) |
| Symptoms reported daily/1–2 times per week | ||||||
| Throat irritation | 4.3 | 1 | 6.1 | 1.5 (0.8 to 3.0) | 10.3 | 2.8 (1.7 to 4.5) |
| Nose irritation | 14.6 | 1 | 13.4 | 0.9 (0.6 to 1.4) | 23.3 | 1.8 (1.4 to 2.5) |
| Congested nose | 10.4 | 1 | 11.7 | 1.1 (0.7 to 1.8) | 19.5 | 2.1 (1.5 to 2.9) |
| Cough with phlegm | 7.8 | 1 | 11.5 | 1.6 (1.0 to 2.6) | 14.2 | 2.0 (1.4 to 2.9) |
| Dry cough | 5.3 | 1 | 8.3 | 1.7 (1.0 to 3.1) | 12.6 | 2.8 (1.8 to 4.3) |