title: Investigation on the lung function of general population in Ilam, west of Iran, as a city exposed to dust storm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dust storm is one of the most important natural sources of air pollution in the Middle East that has caused a major concern in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respiratory tract function of people living in Ilam city (Iran) during dust storm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample size of 250 people was selected and the cluster sampling was randomly used from 13 health centers in Ilam city. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was determined via a standard spirometry apparatus. Vital capacity (VC), Forced Vital capacity (FVC), FVC in first second (FEV1), FEV1/VC, FEV1/FVC, peek expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75%), forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75%), forced expiratory flow (FEF75-85%), forced mid flow time (FMFT) and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of respiratory capacities measured in all participants excluding FEV1/VC and FMFT were less than predicted mean values by ECCS reference. 21.6% of the population suffered from obstructive lesions. This value among males (24.1%) was more than females (19.6%). This could be related to more exposure (outdoor jobs) of males with dust storms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results also showed a negative significant relationship between duration of inhabitance in Ilam city and all respiratory capacities. Further studies are needed for confident confirmation of whether reduction of respiratory capacities among Ilamian people is only related to dust storms.
authors.affiliation: . amarloei@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amarloei
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jonidi Jafari
authors.forename: Hassan Asilian
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mahabadi
authors.forename: Kheirollah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asadollahi
authors.forename: Heshmatollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nourmoradi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust