State and Local Environmental Public Health Employees Usage of Public Health Assessments and Consultations Documents

Results of the Medical
Testing Program
www.atsdr.cdc.gov

1.888.42.ATSDR

October 2005

Environmental
Health

For Former Workers of the
Stauffer Chemical Company,

Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs, Florida
Medical testing
showed that
70% of Stauffer
Chemical Co.
workers tested
had a mild or
moderate chronic
respiratory
problem

05-0664

Why did ATSDR do medical testing?
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reported
in April 2003 that workers at the Stauffer Chemical Company were
exposed to harmful chemicals, dust, and gases. Because of concerns
expressed by community members and an elected official, ATSDR
arranged and paid for a medical evaluation of people who worked in
phosphorous production at the Stauffer plant for at least 2 years. About
425 out of the 2,520 workers at Stauffer were eligible for the testing. In
September and December 2004, ATSDR informed these workers about
the testing by sending letters of invitation and other outreach efforts to
arrange participation in the testing.

What types of tests were done?

From October 2004 to April 2005, 36 workers were evaluated at
University Community Health, Occupational Health Services in Holiday,
FL. Doctors took a work and medical history, and performed physical
exams which included lung function tests (spirometry), and x-rays of
the lungs. A lung specialist (pulmonologist) gave more testing to anyone
with an abnormal test result. These doctors were not associated with
the Stauffer Chemical Company. Copies of test results were given to
the worker and to their doctor with the worker’s permission. In some
situations the worker’s primary care physician was contacted to inform
them of urgent medical findings.

Stauffer Medical Testing Results

What did ATSDR find?

The 36 workers who were tested were men between
47 and 90 years of age. These men worked between
2 and 36 years at Stauffer but most men worked
for 10 years or less. Nearly 80% of these men
reported handling asbestos-containing material over
their entire work career. In addition, 67% said they
smoked and 20% had a respiratory disease that
had been diagnosed by their primary doctor prior to
taking part in this medical evaluation.
The respiratory health status for these workers is
summarized in the table below. More than one
health condition can be present in the same person.
Eleven (30%) men had normal respiratory health
status and 25 (70%) men had a mild or moderate
abnormality of the respiratory system. The most
common conditions were pneumoconiosis (a dustrelated chronic lung disease) and other airway/lung
conditions. Compared with the 11 workers who had
a normal respiratory health status, the 25 workers
with a respiratory problem were slightly older, and
most of these men smoked.

Results of the Respiratory Examinations of Former Phosphorous Production Workers, Stauffer Chemical Company
Respiratory Health Status*

Number

Percent

Normal

11 of 36

30%

Abnormal**

25 of 36

70%

Pneumoconiosis (lung disease from dust)

12 of 25

48%

Other Airway/Lung Condition (indication of previous illness etc)

11 of 25

44%

Asbestosis*** (chronic lung inflammation)

7 of 25

28%

Chronic Bronchitis (chronic inflammation of bronchus or upper airway)

2 of 25

8%

*

Status was determined by doctors at Occupational Health Services and/or the pulomonologist.

** More than one condition can be present for the same individual.
*** Evidence of asbestosis included pleural plaques or thickening of the pleura or parenchymal disease.

The 25 workers’ abnormal respiratory conditions as
diagnosed by the doctors at Occupational Health
Services and/or the pulmonologist may have been
caused by exposures at work, at other places, or
from a previous illness. Some of these respiratory
conditions could have been caused by an infection of
the lung or made worse by smoking or other health
conditions.
Because the 36 workers tested were volunteers and
self-selected, the results cannot be generalized to
everyone else who worked at Stauffer. ATSDR will
provide health information for workers to increase
knowledge and awareness about respiratory wellness.
At this time, ATSDR is not planning to do further
medical testing of workers.

Please contact Steven Inserra,
Epidemiologist, for more information
toll free at (888) 422-8737
or e–mail [email protected]

Acknowledgement

We thank the doctors and staff of Occupational
Health Services for conducting the medical testing
program and the individuals who took part in the
medical testing.
Disclaimer
The findings and conclusions in this report have not
been formally disseminated by the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry and should not be
construed to represent any agency determination or
policy.

www.atsdr.cdc.gov

1.888.42.ATSDR