title: Restrictive Pattern of Pulmonary Symptoms among Photocopy and Printing Workers: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to the growth of photocopier usage in workplaces, the potential risk of occupational exposure to the airborne chemicals has been raised up. Hence, monitoring the photocopy worker's respiratory functions seems to be necessary. We aimed to evaluate the respiratory health on photocopy and printing workers so that a reliable description can be made about their occupational hygiene.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in Shiraz, southwest Iran in 2014 and a group of 150 photocopy and printing workers were surveyed as exposed group in addition to a group of 114 office staff as unexposed group. The respiratory standard questionnaire was used to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the selected staff. Pulmonary function indexes including VC, FVC, FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio were calculated. Finally, t-test, Chi Square and multiple logistic regressions were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VC, FVC and FEV1 in photocopy and printing workers were lower than the unexposed group of which these differences for FVC and FEV1 were statistically significant (P<0.05). Moreover, the prevalence of all respiratory symptoms, except the shortness of breath, in exposed group was more than the unexposed group and the prevalence of coughing and wheezing was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in respiratory symptoms (cough and wheezing) between two groups after controlling for confounding variables, OR: 2.61 (95% CI: 1.21, 5.62) and 2.92 (95% CI: 1.25, 6.84), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of excess respiratory symptoms along with pattern of pulmonary restrictive sings in photocopy and printing workers revealed that the workplace conditions can result in occupational respiratory diseases.
authors: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. alikarimi57@gmail.com.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Karimi
authors: Food Safety Research Center, Shahid-Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: Eslamizad
authors: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Mostafaee
authors: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Momeni
authors: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Fateme
authors: F
authors: Ziafati
authors: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Shokoofe
authors: S
authors: Mohammadi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007492:Iran; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011327:Printing; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014937:Work
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Photocopy and Printing Workers; Pulmonary Function Indexes; Respiratory Symptom