Evaluation of Spirometery Parameters and Clinical Symptoms in Tobacco-Industry Workers Exposed to Dust in Tobacco Factory
نویسندگان
1 Deparment of Internal Medicine. NRITLD, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
2 Department of Occupational Medicine
3 Department of Occupational Medicine
4 Deparment of Internal Medicine. NRITLD, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
5 Deparment of Internal Medicine. NRITLD, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
doi
چکیده
Background: Despite the fact that many surveys have been carried out on adverse effects of tobacco and diseasesattributable to smoking, only a few studies have described the effects of tobacco dust in tobacco-industry workers.Materials and Methods: A total of 487 nonsmoking factory workers were randomly selected from different sections ofthe factory for this cross-sectional study. Having completed the questionnaire, they underwent spirometry and otherexaminations including DLCO, TLC, chest X-ray, and CT scan.Results: Five cases developed COPD (1.27%) of whom 4 (0.96%) were working in cigarette fabricating section. Of 8patients with asthma (1.92%), 3(0.72%) worked in an area where cigarettes were fabricated. Restrictive disorders werereported in 6 workers (1.42%) of whom 2 were in the sorting-blending and fabricating sections (0.48%) and 1 in tobaccopackaging (0.24%) section.Conclusion: The results implied high prevalence of obstructive disorders in the workers of cigarette fabricatingsection. We have concluded that working in different sections of a cigarette factory and also working experience have nosignificant relationship with pulmonary disorders and radiologic appearance of nonsmoking workers.(Tanaffos 2002;1(1),41-45)
