title: Lung function and respiratory symptoms among female hairdressers in Palestine: a 5-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hairdressers are exposed to chemicals at the workplace which are known to cause respiratory symptoms and asthma. This study aimed to examine changes in self-reported respiratory symptoms over 5 years, as well as to examine the lung function decline and determine whether it is within the expected range, to assess the dropout rate and reasons for leaving the profession, and to examine the associations between occupational factors and lung function changes at follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female hairdressing salons in Hebron city, Palestine.
  
  
  METHODS
  170 female hairdressers who participated in a baseline survey in 2008 were followed up in 2013. A total of 161 participants participated in 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in reported respiratory symptoms and change in lung function over follow-up. Dropout from the profession and reasons for it. Differences between current and former hairdressers in respiratory symptoms and lung function at follow-up. Ambient air ammonia levels in 13 salons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current hairdressers reported more respiratory symptoms in 2013 compared with baseline. Former hairdressers reported fewer symptoms at follow-up. At follow-up, current hairdressers showed a significant decrease in forced vital capacity of 35 mL/year (95% CI 26 to 44 mL/year) and of 31 mL/year (95% CI 25 to 36 mL/year) for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). 28 (16%) of the hairdressers quit the job during the 5-year follow-up, 8 (28%) because of health problems. Hairdressers who had been working for 4 years or more at baseline showed a stronger decline in FEV1 compared with those who worked less than 4 years (difference 13, 95% CI 1 to 25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current hairdressers developed more respiratory symptoms and larger lung function decline than former hairdressers during follow-up. Few hairdressers left their profession because of respiratory health problems. Working for more years is associated with lung function decline among current hairdressers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway Section for Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Department of Biology, Occupational Epidemiology and Biological Research Lab, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine.
authors.forename: Maysaa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nemer
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway Section for Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Occupational Epidemiology and Biological Research Lab, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine.
authors.forename: Khaldoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nijem
authors.affiliation: Section for Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Espen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bjertness
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Øivind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Skare
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skogstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001505:Beauty Culture; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances
keywords: Follow-up; Hairdressers; Lung function; Occpational exposure