Respiratory findings in chemical workers exposed to low concentrations of organic and inorganic air pollutants.
BACKGROUND
Occupational exposure to respiratory irritants may effect respiratory function in workers exposed to ambient air pollutants in the workplace.


METHODS
We studied 567 male and 135 female workers employed in two chemical plants in Zagreb, Croatia. Measurements of the ambient concentrations of air pollutants were performed. The mean age of the men was 37 years and mean duration of employment was 12 years; a majority of these workers were smokers. The mean age of the women was 37 years with a mean duration of employment of 14 years; only one-third of the women smoked. An unexposed group of 340 male and 110 female unexposed workers was also studied. Acute and chronic work related symptoms were recorded for all workers. Ventilatory capacity was measured by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves.


RESULTS
There were higher prevalences for all chronic respiratory symptoms in exposed than in unexposed workers particularly among women, a majority of which were nonsmokers. Occupational asthma was recorded in three (0. 5%) of the men and in two (1.5%) of the women workers. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of chronic respiratory symptoms among exposed workers was primarily associated with the amount of smoking. Additionally, there were high prevalences of acute symptoms during the work shift. Among the chemical workers these were greatest for eye irritation (male: 43. 9%; female: 51.9%), dryness of the throat (male: 43.4%; female: 57. 0%) and irritation of the throat (male: 37.4%; female: 56.6%). Ventilatory capacity data among the chemical workers demonstrated that most of the measured tests, particularly the FVC and FEV1 were significantly decreased compared to predicted (P < 0.01 or P < 0. 05)). In particular nonsmoking women exhibited abnormal lung function. The effect of smoking among exposed workers was demonstrated on all ventilatory capacity tests by regression analysis for all measured respiratory parameters. Both length of exposure and age were correlated with lung function loss for FVC. Measured pollutant levels were for the most part within acceptable standard limits.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that in this population of chemical workers exposed to low levels of pollutants respiratory symptoms were primarily associated with smoking. Environmental effects, possibly due to an interaction of pollutants were also suggested.
Mustajbegovic
J
J
Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Medical Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Zuskin
E
E
Schachter
E N
EN
Kern
J
J
Vitale
K
K
Ebling
Z
Z
Vrcic-Keglevic
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants; D002617:Chemical Industry; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
D000393:Air Pollutants