title: Respiratory findings in pharmaceutical workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmaceutical workers may be at risk for the development of respiratory problems as a result of their work environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated 163 female and 35 male workers, employed in a pharmaceutical plant processing different types of medication, primarily antibiotics, in order to characterize the risk of this environment. Chronic respiratory symptoms were recorded by using the British Medical Research Council questionnaire. Acute symptoms, which developed during the work shift, were also recorded. Ventilatory capacity was measured by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves on which FVC, FEV1, FEF50, and FEF25 were measured. Controls (113) were selected from a food packing facility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was recorded among workers (compared to controls), the highest being for sinusitis, nasal catarrh, and dyspnea. There was also a high prevalence of acute symptoms recorded during the workshift. Odds ratio showed that the most significant risk factors for these respiratory findings were smoking and length of time worked in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in men. Pulmonary function testing demonstrated significantly decreased measured values in comparison to predicted European pulmonary function measurements (P < 0.01). This was particularly pronounced for FEF50 and FEF25, suggesting obstructive changes in smaller airways.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that workers employed in the pharmaceutical industry may develop respiratory symptoms accompanied by ventilatory impairment.
authors.affiliation: Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Eugenija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zuskin
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mustajbegovic
authors.forename: E Neil
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Schachter
authors.forename: Josipa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: Vlasta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deckovic-Vukres
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pucarin-Cvetkovic
authors.forename: Iskra A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Nola-Premec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004345:Drug Industry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols