[Dynamic observation of pulmonary ventilation function in workers contacting chromate].
OBJECTIVE
To explore changes of pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed workers.


METHODS
Ninety-five chromate exposed workers  were used as exposure group, and forty-two workers without chromate exposure as control group. Pulmonary ventilation function was performed two times  in the winter of 2010 and 2011 respectively in one chromate manufactured factory in Henan Province.


RESULTS
In 2010, pulmonary ventilation function of  chromate exposed group compared with the control group, forced vital capacity [FVC, (75.38±15.23) L vs. (83.99±26.52)L], forced expiratory volume  in one second [FEV1,(82.13±16.51)L vs.(91.24±30.03)L], FEV1/FVC(112.10±13.23 vs. 116.18±11.32), peak expiratory flow [PEF,(74.31±28.09) L/s vs.(78.13±28.34)L/s], maximal expiratory flow [MEF,(101.23±46.37) L/s vs. (110.02±41.40)L/s], maximum ventilation volume [MVV,(90.82± 16.89)L/min vs. (99.95±22.61)L/min]were significantly decreased(P<0.05). In 2011, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group  compared with the control group, FVC[(72.34±14.18)L vs.(81.01±20.79)L], FEV1[(76.04±16.20)L vs.(86.71±24.53)L], FEV1/FVC(109.10±16.18  vs.114.08±10.79), PEF[(71.35±24.87 )L/s vs.(75.36±20.67)L/s], MEF[(96.51±30.17)L/s vs.(107.11±34.81)L/s], MVV[(84.85±21.22)L/min vs.  (96.77±22.63)L/min] were also significantly decreased(P<0.05). 2011 compared with 2010, pulmonary ventilation function of chromate exposed group  FEV1[(76.04±16.20)L vs.( 82.13±16.51)L], MEF[(96.51±30.17)L/s vs. (101.23±46.37)L/s], MVV[(84.85±21.22)L/min  vs. (90.82±16.89)L/min]  were significantly decreased(P<0.05). Comparing the classification and category of pulmonary dysfunction based on FVC, FEV1, FVC/ FEV1, no  difference was found for classification between the two groups and the category of pulmonary dysfunction almost belongs to limit type, which did not  change with exposed time.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic chromate exposure can cause significant effects on pulmonary function of the workers, and the types of  work in production can affect the results.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China.
Te
T
Ba
Yong-en
YE
Gu
Shan-fa
SF
Yu
Guang-chao
GC
Cheng
Jing
J
Wang
Tian
T
Chen
Yan-shuang
YS
Song
Jing-lin
JL
Yang
Qin
Q
Qian
Yun
Y
Wang
Yu-zheng
YZ
Li
Guang
G
Jia
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D002840:Chromates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D002840:Chromates