Occupational exposures and respiratory symptoms and lung function among hairdressers in Iran: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective Exposures at hairdressers’ work have been reported to lead to an increased risk of several health outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the relations between occupational exposures and respiratory symptoms and lung function among hairdressers in Iran. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare potential respiratory effects among 140 women working as hairdressers to such effects among 140 women working as office workers (administrative personnel). Both groups worked in Shiraz, Iran. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by a standard respiratory questionnaire. The questionnaire also inquired about substances used and workspace conditions, including ventilation type. Lung function levels were measured by spirometry. Results Respiratory symptoms, including cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness were significantly more frequent in hairdressers compared to the reference group (p < 0.05). After controlling for potential confounders, hairdressers had a prevalence ratio (PR) of 2.18 (95% CI 1.26–3.77) for cough, 9.59 (95% CI 1.004–91.73) for wheezing, 2.06 (95% CI 1.25–3.39) for shortness of breath, and 3.31 (95% CI 1.84–5.97) for chest tightness compared to the reference group. Lung function parameters (including VC, FVC, and FEV1) were significantly reduced in hairdressers (p < 0.001). Absence of air conditioning predicted greater reduction in lung function (p < 0.05) in the exposed. Decrease in FVC with normal FEV1/FVC in the exposed group suggested existence of restrictive lung function. Conclusions This study provides evidence of increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and restrictive lung function impairment among hairdressers in Iran.

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Prevalence of COVID-19-like Symptoms among People Living with HIV, and Using Antiretroviral Therapy for Prevention and Treatment

Current HIV Research ◽

10.2174/1570162x18666200712175535 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 373-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi ◽

Maryam Ghadimi ◽

Mahboubeh Hajiabdolbaghi ◽

Mehrnaz Rasoolinejad ◽

Ladan Abbasian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Limited Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Living With Hiv

Background: COVID-19 has spread globally with remarkable speed, and currently, there is limited data available exploring any aspect of the intersection between HIV and SARSCoV- 2 co-infection. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tehran, Iran. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 200 PLWH were recruited through the positive club via sampling, and completed the symptom-based questionnaire for COVID-19, which was delivered by trained peers. Results: Of 200 participants, respiratory symptoms, including cough, sputum, and shortness of breath, were the most prevalent among participants, but only one person developed symptoms collectively suggested COVID-19 and sought treatments. Conclusions: It appears that existing infection with HIV or receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) might reduce the susceptibility to the infection with SARS-CoV-2 or decrease the severity of the infection acquired. Further research is needed to understand causal mechanisms.

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Effect of smoking on lung function, respiratory symptoms and respiratory diseases amongst HIV-positive subjects: a cross-sectional study

AIDS Research and Therapy ◽

10.1186/1742-6405-7-6 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Qu Cui ◽

Sue Carruthers ◽

Andrew McIvor ◽

Fiona Smaill ◽

Lehana Thabane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Diseases ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Health consequences of thick forest fire smoke to healthy residents in Riau, Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

Medical Journal of Indonesia ◽

10.13181/mji.oa.204321 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 58-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jamal Zaini ◽

Agus Dwi Susanto ◽

Erlang Samoedro ◽

Vonni Christiana Bionika ◽

Budhi Antariksa

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Forest Fire ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fire Disaster ◽

Fire Smoke ◽

Forest Fire Disaster

BACKGROUND Indonesia forest fire in 2015 emitted a huge amount of pollutants into the air. This study was aimed to assess the health consequences of forest fire smoke in healthy residents in Riau during forest fire disaster in 2015. METHODS This cross-sectional study was performed in healthy residents who lived in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Sumatera, for at least 6 months during forest fire disaster in 2015, and data were taken in October 2015. Questionnaires consisting of respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms were collected. Lung function was assessed by spirometry (MIR II Spirolab™ spirometer, Medical International Research, Italy) and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) was assessed using piCO+ Smokerlyzer®. Heart rate at rest and oxygen saturation in the room air were measured using Onyx 9591 Pulse Oximeter®. RESULTS A total of 89 subjects were mostly female (75.3%), housewife (37.7%), nonsmoker (86.5%) with mean age of 38.9 years old. The non-respiratory and respiratory symptoms were reported in 84.7% and 71.4% subjects, respectively. Lung function was impaired in 72.6% subjects, mostly with mild obstruction and mild restriction. Exhaled CO was highly detected over normal values (mean [standard deviation] = 32.6 [9.97] ppm) with predicted carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) of 5.74 (1.56). CONCLUSIONS Forest fire smoke exposure increased the respiratory and nonrespiratory symptoms among healthy individuals, which showed impairment in lung function, exhaled CO, and predicted COHb. Long term health effects on healthy individuals exposed to forest fire smoke warrant further evaluation.

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Lung function, functional capacity, and respiratory symptoms at discharge from hospital in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: A cross-sectional study

Physiotherapy Theory and Practice ◽

10.1080/09593985.2017.1377331 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 194-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jenny S. Danielsbacka ◽

Monika Fagevik Olsén ◽

Per-Olof Hansson ◽

Kaisa Mannerkorpi

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Lung Function ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Discharge From Hospital

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Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function of Farmer and Breeder in UTU Village, Tabanan, Bali

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2020.4538 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (B) ◽

pp. 709-715

Author(s):

Ni Luh Putu Eka Arisanti ◽

Ni Putu Ayu Widiasari ◽

Ida Bagus Ngurah Rai

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Vital Capacity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Smoking History ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Lung Function Decline ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Passive Smoker

AIM: The objective of the study was to determine chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function of farmers. METHODS: The study was conducted in Utu Village, Tabanan, Bali with 84 subjects. This research was observational analytic cross sectional study. RESULTS: Three dominant chronic respiratory symptoms in farmers were coughing (15.1%), dyspnea (13.1%), and phlegm (13.1%). Average values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC were 83.75 ± 34.42, respectively, 81.62 ± 34.30 and 104.90 ± 13.90, respectively. Cough was dominant experiencing by smokers (p = 0.008). Mean of FEV1% prediction and FVC% prediction value was lower in passive smoker group than no smoker group (p = 0.005 and p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure while farming and raising livestock can cause chronic respiratory symptom and lung function decline in farmers and can be influenced by smoking history and secondhand smoke exposure.

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Occurrence of respiratory symptoms and lung function deficits among fruit and vegetable market workers

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2020-106829 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. oemed-2020-106829

Author(s):

Behzad Heibati ◽

Maritta S Jaakkola ◽

Taina K Lajunen ◽

Alan Ducatman ◽

Zinat Zafari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Response Rate ◽

Reference Group ◽

Prevalence Ratio ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of occupational exposures among fruit and vegetable market workers on the occurrence of respiratory symptoms and on the level of lung function parameters.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 140 men working as fruit and vegetable market workers (response rate 100%) and a reference group of 77 male office workers as the reference group (response rate 55%) from Shiraz, Iran. The outcomes of interest included occurrence of respiratory symptoms assessed by a standard respiratory questionnaire and lung function assessed by spirometry.ResultsIn Poisson regression analyses, the exposed group showed increased prevalence ratio (PR) of wheezing (adjusted PR 5.32, 95% CI 1.40 to 20.26), after controlling for confounding. Cough (PR 3.30, 95% CI 1.16 to 9.40) and wheezing (PR 9.40, 95% CI 2.28 to 38.64) showed increased PRs among vegetable distributors. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity were significantly decreased among exposed workers after controlling for confounders. The absolute value of FEV1 level was reduced significantly among fruit and vegetable carters (−0.99, 95% CI −1.68 to −0.32) and vegetable (−0.51, 95% CI −0.93 to −0.10) and fruit (−0.51, 95% CI −0.86 to −0.15) distributors in comparison with the reference group in the adjusted full model.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that fruit and vegetable market workers are at an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function. Workplace conditions and safety training clearly need improvement, and there is a likely role for proper use of personal protective equipment.

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A cross-sectional study of lung function and respiratory symptoms among chemical workers producing diacetyl for food flavourings

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem.2008.039560 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 105-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

F G B G J van Rooy ◽

L A M Smit ◽

R Houba ◽

V A C Zaat ◽

J M Rooyackers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Chemical Workers

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Respiratory symptoms and cross-shift lung function in relation to cotton dust and endotoxin exposure in textile workers in Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2014-102718 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (12) ◽

pp. 870-876 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Priyamvada Paudyal ◽

Sean Semple ◽

Santosh Gairhe ◽

Markus F C Steiner ◽

Rob Niven ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Textile Workers ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cotton Dust ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Endotoxin Exposure

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Peak expiratory flow rate and chronic respiratory symptoms among restaurant workers: a cross-sectional study from Thailand

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.20059.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 1429 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chudchawal Juntarawijit

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Peak Expiratory Flow ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cooking Methods ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Expiratory Flow

Background: Cooking smoke is a major source of indoor air pollution affecting millions of people worldwide. To date, there has been no epidemiological study to show the variation in health effects resulting from work at different kinds of restaurants in Thailand. This study determines lung function and chronic respiratory symptoms of workers in four types of eateries commonly found in Thailand. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 321 people working in four common types of restaurants in Thailand: ‘tamsang’ restaurants (from the Thai word ร้านอาหารตามสั่ง, a restaurant that makes a variety of foods to order) (170 people), papaya salad restaurants (51 people), noodle restaurants (50 people), and barbecue stalls (50 people). The restaurant workers’ demographic data as well as information on their working conditions was collected using a questionnaire administered in a face to face interview. Each worker’s peak expiratory flow rate was measured using a portable peak flow meter. Results: This study found that working in a ‘tamsang’ restaurant is associated with a higher risk of poor lung function (OR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.33–5.06) and a higher prevalence of moderate dyspnea symptoms (OR = 3.79, 95% CI 1.63–8.79) compared to working in a papaya salad restaurant. The study also found that each of the following were associated with poor lung function and/or chronic respiratory symptoms: cooking with palm oil, having irritated teary eyes while cooking, cooking without a ventilation hood, long past experience working at restaurants, and working in a small cooking area (1–6 m2). Conclusions: Work in different kinds of restaurants with variations in cooking methods and work conditions produces diverse effects on airway and lung function. Regulatory organizations should pay careful attention to protecting the health of restaurant workers, especially those working in ‘tamsang’ restaurants.

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