Impact of Associating Tobacco to Chemicals Exposure on the Lung Function: Supply of Spirometry

Abstract

Our study’s aim is to assess the impact of the combination of tobacco and chemical products (chlorine, sulphuric acid (sulphur)) on pulmonary function using the spirometry. Subjects selected were divided on 4 groups according to their smoking status and/or the exposition on chemical products. Parameters studied were: Slow Vital Capacity (SVC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/VC (Tiffeneau), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). Ventilatory disorders were assessed in each group and comparison between groups was done. The comparative study of spirometry’s subjects who aren’t exposed on chemical products (G1vsG2), revealed that smokers (G2) had a VEMS more significantly low than the predicted standard value (P=0,003). When we compare nonsmokers (G1vsG3), exposed subjects showed a significant predominance of ventilatory disorders with CVL, VEMS and DEP weaker p=0,034(CVL), p=0,045(VEMS), p<0,001(DEP)). Among the smokers, we observed at chemical addicts, a significant reduction of CV (P=0,001(CVL); P<0,001(CVF)). Chemical addicts compared to tobacco addicts, presented a significant pre-eminence of ventilatory disorders (p=0,03(CVL), p=0,037(CVF), p=0,021(DEP)). Comparison between co-addicts(G4) and new subjects(G1), showed a variation rate more significantly low about CVL(P<0,001), CVF (P=0,003) and VEMS (P=0,021). Besides, the study of 12 co-addicts successive spirometries, on an average time of 3 years, showed in 80% of case, an evolution to ventilatory disorder. Moreover, subjects exposed on chlorine, compared with the ones exposed on sulphur, presented more ventilatory disorders (P<0,001). Then the chronic exposition on chemical products, tobacco impregnation constitutes a worsening factor of ventilatory disorders. Chlorine would be more toxic than sulphur.