Background: Many of the studies have put forth the hypothesis that sawdust deteriorates lung function, increases the incidence and prevalence of diseases of the respiratory system, and can predispose to cancer and deaths. Deterioration of lung function can be tested by pulmonary function tests. Several studies have shown respiratory disorders in sawmill workers, including the reduction of pulmonary function tests, but there is a paucity of such studies in Central India; hence, in this study, we tried to study comparative lung function among sawmill workers.
Objective: The objective of this study was as follows: (i) To study the lung function of workers in sawmill industry, (ii) comparative assessment of lung function with those of controls, and (iii) to study the effect of occupational exposure to wood dust.
Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the sawmills in Nagpur city from September 2013 to December 2015. Sawmill workers were the study group and local government workers as comparison group. Each worker was examined in a separate room away from the workplace. Spirometry was done to assess the lung function using the UKs Compact Vitalograph. Subjects in the control group were also examined with the spirometry. The lung function values of sawmill workers compared with the control and the difference in them was assessed both numerically and statistically.
Results: Mean of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow2575, and peak expiratory flow rate was significantly decreased among sawmill workers as compared to control group (P < 0.05), but FEV1/FVC ratio was significantly elevated among sawmill workers (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: We have concluded that sawmill workers suffered from obstructive or restrictive type of pulmonary disorder, but the predominant type was restrictive lung disease.
Key words: sawmill workers, lung function, wood dust, FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR
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