title: A study on the prevalence of chronic bronchitis in workers exposed to smoke and irritant fumes in a railway workshop.
abstract: In the present study 108 full time workers employed in various sections of a railway workshop and exposed to smoke and irritant fumes, and 45 matched control subjects from local administrative staff were investigated to find prevalence of chronic bronchitis. In all 18 (16.7%) workers and 4 (8.9%) control subjects had clinical evidence of chronic bronchitis. Peak expiratory flow rate less than 300 L/min was observed in 54.6% workers and 2.2% control subjects. A significantly higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis was seen in workers. The advancing age, smoking and duration of exposure had significant influence on prevalence of chronic bronchitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Western Railway Hospital, Bhavnagar Para, Gujarat.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015995:Prevalence; D011890:Railroads; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012906:Smoke