Appx H1_Pop_Announcement

Appendix H.1: Study Announcement for Popcorn Workers (English)

Dear ______________,

We are writing to invite you to participate in a research study being conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH is a public health agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NIOSH is responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illnesses and injuries. NIOSH is not part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and does not enforce workplace health and safety laws.

NIOSH conducted a series of medical surveys of workers at the Gilster-Mary Lee popcorn plant in Jasper, MO and the Carthage Health Department that began in 2000 and continued through 2003. At that time, you participated in one or more of these surveys. We are contacting you regarding a NIOSH research study involving follow-up medical testing for lung disease. NIOSH will not be visiting the Gilster-Mary Lee popcorn plant during this study. Your participation is completely voluntary.

NIOSH is doing this study to better understand the types of lung problems seen among individuals who worked at Gilster-Mary Lee and what has happened to them over the last 10 to 13 years. NIOSH initially concentrated on workers with abnormalities in breathing tests that were similar to those found in some former workers with diagnoses of the rare lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans. Since then, we found that some workers who had worked at Gilster-Mary Lee and in other plants with flavoring exposures had a different type of abnormality in their breathing tests. We are now offering additional tests to better understand the spectrum of lung disease that may be associated with flavoring exposure. We also want to see whether workers at Gilster-Mary Lee have stayed the same, gotten worse, or gotten better, and whether they continued employment there or not.

The medical testing is FREE and will be offered the week of DATES. The medical survey will include a private interview about your health and work history, breathing tests, blood draw, and a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan, which is a sensitive type of X-ray (also known as a CT scan or CAT scan). You can choose to participate in any or all of the tests offered. The private interview and breathing tests will take place at LOCATION. The HRCT scan will take place at LOCATION, and we will arrange transportation to and from the X-ray clinic. We expect the testing to take approximately 3 to 3.5 hours. We have enclosed an informational handout and a consent form that describe the study. If you decide to take part in the medical testing, we will compensate you for your time and effort with a $50 GIFT CARD to a local merchant.

It would be helpful for you to bring to your appointment a list of medications you have taken in the past 12 months, along with a list of jobs you have held at Gilster-Mary Lee and elsewhere since we last interviewed you in DATE. It is important that you know that your medical test results will only be available to you, and if you wish, your personal physician.

If you have any questions and/or would like to participate, please contact us at 1-800-232-2114 and ask for Dr. Rachel Bailey. You can also email Dr. Bailey at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Rachel L. Bailey, DO, MPH

Project Officer

(304) 285-5757

[email protected]

Jean Cox-Ganser, PhD

Co-Project Officer

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies

(304) 285-5818

[email protected]