engleski

Respiratory findings in female mineral fertilizer plant workers

Background and Purpose: Workers employed in the industry processing fertilizers are exposed to a mixture of different noxious agents which may potentially cause the development of respiratory difficulties. Subjects and Methods: The study includes a group of 131 female workers employed in a chemical plant manufacturing mineral fertilizers and 92 non-exposed female workers as controls. Acute and chronic respiratory simptoms were recorded in all fertilizer and control workers. Lung function was measured in fertilizer workers by recording maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves on which forced vital capacity (FVC), one second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), maximum expiratory flows at 50%, and the last 25% were read (FEF50, FEF25). Results: There was a higher prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms in fertilizer-compared to control workers (p<0.01 or 0.05). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of these symptoms between smokers and nonsmokers. A luge number of fertilizer workers complained of acute symptoms that develop during work shift. The measured lung function tests demonstrated significantly decreased FEF50 and FEF25 in relation to predicted values indicating obstructive changes located predominantly in small airways. Regression analysis showed significant correlation of FVC, FEV1, FEF50 and FEF25 with employment duration (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our data suggested that workers occupationally exposed to fertilizer dust may develop acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as ventilatory function impairment.

fertilizer plant workers; respiratory symptoms; lung funcion

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