Pulmonary functions in ARC-welders in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the occupational effects of Arc-welding on small scale welders in Modakeke, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.


METHODS
A community-based, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A semi-urban area Modakeke, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.


METHODS
A semi-urban area with a population of about 300,000 (three hundred thousand).


METHODS
Forty four Arc-welders in Modakeke, Ile-Ife and fifty age and sex-matched controls working in the Maintenance Department of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.


METHODS
Structured questionnaires adapted from the Medical Research Council, UK respiratory questionnaire with some modifications were administered to all subjects and controls. Physical examination and lung function tests were also carried out on all subjects and controls.


METHODS
Occupational-related symptoms of welders and controls were compared. Ventilatory function of welders and controls were also compared using the Student's 't'-test. Chi-square was adopted to test the strength of relationship between smoking and lung function abnormalities.


RESULTS
The most frequent symptoms found among the subjects were eye irritation (95.43%), rhinitis (50.09%) and skin irritation (43.19%). The arc-welders were found to have characteristically lower lung function parameters than controls (p < 0.05). Ten (22.7%) of the subjects had obstructive lung disease compared to four (8%) of the controls; while 18 (40.9%) of the subjects had restrictive lung disease. Their lung abnormalities had no relationship to their smoking history.


CONCLUSIONS
Workers exposed to arc-welding are at risk of occupational-related symptoms and chronic lung disease. Adoption of protective devices and monitoring of welders' breathing zones for toxic levels of gases and fumes are necessary to reduce the risk associated with arc-welding.
Erhabor
G E
GE
Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
Fatusi
S
S
Obembe
O B
OB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D014896:Welding