Evaluation of pulmonary function among detergent powder factory workers- a cross sectional study in Semnan, Iran

Farhad Malek,Majid Mirmohammadkhani,Daryoush Pahlevan,Elham Ranjbari

doi:10.1186/s12995-022-00347-1

Abstract

Occupational respiratory diseases are the most prevalent occurring work-related diseases that contribute to global health concerns. The present study aimed to assess pulmonary function among detergent powder factory workers.In a cross-sectional study, 305 employees working at a detergent powder company in Semnan, Iran were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, health- and job-related information were recorded using a checklist. Subsequently, spirometer was used at baseline, before and after shift-working for recording respiratory ailments and pulmonary function tests (PFT).According to the results, the mean percentage of all spirometric indices significantly reduced after shift-work including forced vital capacity (FVC) (P < 0.01), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (P < 0.01), FEV1/FVC ratio (P = 0.038), peak expiratory flow (PEF) (P = 0.13) and forced expiratory flow at 25 and 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF (25–75)) (P < 0.01). Although the mean percentage of FEV1 significantly improved upon wearing the protective mask (P = 0.014). Moreover, FVC and FEV1 indices were significantly less in smoking workers than in non-smoking participants (P = 0.005 and P = 0.003, respectively).This study revealed that using effective preventive measures should be tightly performed to promote health conditions. However, despite the occupational health programs for preventing and reducing work-related respiratory diseases, these can be considered as a serious threat for detergent powder factory workers that need to apply more control strategies and health assessment.

Highlights

With worldwide increases in production and consumption through the increasing population, occupational exposure is a substantial global health concern
Pulmonary function tests The current study was performed according to the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) guideline recommendations using spirometry
There were the significant differences of forced vital capacity (FVC) and Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) parameters between smoking and non-smoking participants (P = 0.005 and P = 0.003, respectively)

Summary

Introduction

With worldwide increases in production and consumption through the increasing population, occupational exposure is a substantial global health concern. Occupational disease is a major cause of disability and absence from work in the working population [1]. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 68–157 million new cases of occupational disease are attributed to hazardous exposures or workloads with. The impressive part of occupational lung diseases is not systematically recorded and the current statistics underestimates the true burden, up to 25% of all lung cancer deaths are attributed to causes of occupational exposure. In Iran, occupational exposure accounted for 13% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 11% of asthma and 9% of lung cancers [3]. A variety of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases are caused by inhaling hazardous chemical agents at the workplace. The exposure to dusts, vapors, immunological agents and microscopic airborne in the workplace are associated to occupational lung diseases [6]

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