Open AccessComparative study of lung function in Iranian factory workers exposed to silica dust
Author(s) -
Abdulrahman Bahrami,
Hossein Mahjub
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2003.9.3.390
Subject(s) - lung function , factory (object oriented programming) , environmental health , occupational exposure , medicine , lung , computer science , programming language
The study compared lung function among 322 workers in pottery, ceramic, stone-cutter and stone-grinder factories in the west of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Concentrations of silica particles <2 microm were measured in the ambient air of factories. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] and forced vital capacity [FVC] were significantly lower in stone-grinders compared with pottery, ceramic or stone-cutter workers and a control group. No difference in lung function was found in pottery and stone-cutter workers with less than 20 years occupation compared with controls. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms in stone-grinders was higher than other workers. The concentration of silica particles of stone-grinder factories was 40-110 times higher than in ceramic and potteries factories. More attention is needed to ventilation systems and health care of stone-grinders