scholarly journals A Cohort Study on Self-Reported Respiratory Symptoms of Toner-Handling Workers: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis from 2003 to 2008

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Kitamura ◽  
Niina Terunuma ◽  
Shizuka Kurosaki ◽  
Koichi Hata ◽  
Masashi Masuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Chest X Ray

This study examines the relationship between toner-handling work and its health effects on self-reported respiratory symptoms. The subjects were 1,504 male workers in a Japanese toner and photocopier manufacturing company. Personal exposure measurement, pulmonary function tests, chest X-ray examination, measurement of biomarkers, and a questionnaire about self-reported respiratory symptoms were performed annually. This study discusses the questionnaire results. We found that the toner-handling group showed significantly higher prevalence of breathlessness than the never-toner-handling group. The significant reduction of pulmonary function and fibrosis change in the chest X-ray examination associated with breathlessness were not observed. However the morbidity of asthma was higher compared to the Japanese population in both of the toner-handling group and the never-toner handling group, the effect of toner exposure was not clarified. Nevertheless, while the toner exposure levels in the current well-controlled working environment may be sufficiently low to prevent adverse health effects, further studies are needed to assess the more long-term latent health effects of toner exposure.

A cohort study using pulmonary function tests and x-ray examination in toner-handling workers

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Kitamura ◽  
N Terunuma ◽  
S Kurosaki ◽  
K Hata ◽  
M Masuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Chest X Ray

Objectives: This study uses pulmonary function tests and chest x-ray examinations to examine the relationship between toner-handling work and its health effects. Methods: The subjects were 1504 male workers in a Japanese toner and photocopier manufacturing company, in the age range from 19 to 50 years in 2003. Personal exposure measurements, pulmonary function tests, chest x-ray examinations, biomarker measurements, and a questionnaire about respiratory symptoms were conducted. The present study reports the results of pulmonary function tests and chest x-ray examinations conducted in the subjects, which includes a cross-sectional study on the toner handling and non-handling workers and a longitudinal study from 2003 to 2008. Results: Few significant findings were suspected to be caused by toner exposure found in pulmonary function indices in both the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Any obvious fibrotic findings in chest x-ray findings related to the toner exposure could not be found out. Conclusion: No evidence of adverse effects on pulmonary function indices and chest x-rays was present in the toner-handling workers as compared to the nonspecifically exposed workers. Although the toner exposure concentration is quite low in the current well-controlled working environment, even among the toner-handling workers, we would like to continue this study in the future to verify the toner exposure health effects.

A cohort study of toner-handling workers on inflammatory, allergic, and oxidative stress markers

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Kitamura ◽  
N Terunuma ◽  
S Kurosaki ◽  
K Hata ◽  
M Masuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Chest X Ray ◽  
The Relationship

Objectives: This study examines the relationship between toner exposure and its health effects in terms of biomarkers which are known to assess the damages to humans caused by toxic material exposure. Methods: The subjects were 1504 male workers aged below 50 in 2003 in a Japanese toner and photocopier manufacturing company. Personal exposure measurements, pulmonary function tests, chest X-ray examinations, biomarker measurement, and a questionnaire about respiratory symptoms were conducted. We will report about biomarker measurement in this study. Cross-sectional survey studies and a longitudinal study from 2003 to 2008 were conducted. Results: Few significant findings were associated with the toner exposure in both the cross-sectional and the longitudinal studies. The higher toner exposure concentrations did not induce effects on increasing biomarkers. Conclusion: There was no evidence of excessive inflammatory, allergic, or oxidative stress reaction in toner-handling workers as compared to non-handling workers, despite some sporadically significant findings. There are no other reports of a longitudinal epidemiological study with regard to toner exposure; this report significantly contributes to toner exposure literature. Although in the current well-controlled working environment, the toner exposure concentrations are quite low; further studies are needed to completely understand the health effects toner may have, however small they may be.

scholarly journals PREVALENCE OF RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND PULMONARY FUNCTION STATUS OF RESTAURANT WORKERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-172
Author(s):  
Mohammed Abdulrazzaq Jabbar Jabbar ◽  
Retneswari Masilamani ◽  
Lim Zhi Yik ◽  
Chen Pei Fei ◽  
Loh Xin Ni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Cooking Fumes

The cooking process may emit toxic compounds and airway irritants from both the fuel combustion and cooking fumes which is harmful to the respiratory health among the restaurant workers. A cross-sectional study of 243 restaurant workers from the selected restaurants in Sungai Long, Malaysia was conducted. The standardized British Medical Research Council questionnaire on Respiratory Symptoms (1986) was used during the interview to access the symptoms and the spirometry test was performed to evaluate the pulmonary functions of the participants. The data of socio-demography and occupational characteristics were also collected. The most complaint respiratory symptoms by the restaurant workers were breathlessness, which accounted for 33.7%, followed by wheezing (14%). The mean values of all pulmonary function tests (PFT) of the restaurant workers were within the normal range (>80%), except for the Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) (79.09%). The results of the bivariate statistical analysis, Chi-square, ANOVA and t-test, showed the determining factors of the respiratory health among the workers were workers’ age and gender in addition to the working duration and the ethnicity. The restaurant workers in Sungai Long were at risk of developing respiratory symptoms and lower pulmonary function values due to prolonged exposure to cooking fumes. Emphasis should be given to the safety and health of restaurant workers and health education should be provided to the restaurant workers and owners. Strategies to increase notification of such occurrences among these workers should be looked into by related agencies in the country.

scholarly journals Relationship between Chest X-ray Findings and Pulmonary Function Tests in Dust Workers

2005 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 256-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoko TONORI ◽  
Masato NIITSUYA ◽  
Toshihiko SATO ◽  
Yumiko SUGIURA ◽  
Hitoshi MIYAKE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Chest X Ray

scholarly journals Evaluation of pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in pyrochlore mine workers

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritta de Cássia Canedo Oliveira Borges ◽  
José Cerqueira Barros Júnior ◽  
Fabrício Borges Oliveira ◽  
Marisa Andrade Brunherotti ◽  
Paulo Roberto Veiga Quemelo
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mining Company ◽  
Production Sector ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mine Workers

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify respiratory symptoms and evaluate lung function in mine workers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study involving production sector workers of a pyrochlore mining company. The subjects completed the British Medical Research Council questionnaire, which is designed to evaluate respiratory symptoms, occupational exposure factors, and smoking status. In addition, they underwent pulmonary function tests with a portable spirometer. Results: The study involved 147 workers (all male). The mean age was 41.37 ± 8.71 years, and the mean duration of occupational exposure was 12.26 ± 7.09 years. We found that 33 (22.44%) of the workers had respiratory symptoms and that 26 (17.69%) showed abnormalities in the spirometry results. However, we found that the spirometry results did not correlate significantly with the presence of respiratory symptoms or with the duration of occupational exposure. Conclusions: The frequencies of respiratory symptoms and spirometric changes were low when compared with those reported in other studies involving occupational exposure to dust. No significant associations were observed between respiratory symptoms and spirometry results.

scholarly journals Pulmonary function tests in children with beta-thalassemia major

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
Jayaraj Harsoor ◽  
Vinod H. Ratageri ◽  
C. Shilpa ◽  
Shivanand Illalu ◽  
Prakash Wari
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Serum Ferritin ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Beta Thalassemia ◽  
Pulmonary Dysfunction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Beta Thalassemia Major ◽  
Function Tests

Objectives: The objective of the study was to study the pattern of lung functions in thalassemia major children and correlation of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) with serum ferritin. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study done from January 2017 to December 2017. Inclusion criteria: Children with confirmed diagnosis of beta-thalassemia major in the age group of 5–15 years were included in the study. Exclusion criteria: Already diagnosed cases of pulmonary dysfunctions, CHD and RHD were excluded from the study. All enrolled children underwent a detailed clinical history, physical examination and blood sample were sent for Hb and serum ferritin before blood transfusion (BT). PFT was done within 24 h of BT using spirometer (Helios-401). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS (Version22). Results: Forty-five children enrolled in the study and majority of them were <10 years (37 children) with M:F ratio 1.6:1. The pulmonary dysfunction was present in 35 (77.8%), but none of them had respiratory symptoms. The pulmonary dysfunction observed was restrictive 31 (88.5%), obstructive 2 (5.7%), and combined 2 (5.7%). A reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) % in 33 (73.3%), a reduced forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1%) in 25 (55.5%), a normal FEV1/FVC in 41 (91.2%), and a reduced FEF 25–75% in 23 (51.1%) children were observed. Risk factors such as, age, height, and duration of chelation (>5 years) were significantly associated with pulmonary dysfunction (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between serum ferritin levels and PFT. However, PFT values were found to be decreased in patients with a high serum ferritin (>2500 ng/ml), but these differences were statistically not significant. Conclusion: Abnormal patterns of lung function were common (restrictive type, predominant), even though none of these children had any respiratory symptoms.

scholarly journals Assessment of Respiratory Symptoms and Pulmonary Function Status among Workers of Flour Mills in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Demeke ◽  
Diresibachew W. Haile
Keyword(s):  
Lung Function ◽  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Anthropometric Measurement ◽  
Productive Cough ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Flour Mill ◽  
Flour Dust

Background. Flour dust in the respiratory tract affects lung function. Flour dust is a heterogeneous organic substance which can have a tendency to cause respiratory ailments. There is growing consensus on the deleterious effects of flour dust on respiratory symptoms and lung performance of flour mill workers. Methods. The study design was comparative cross-sectional. A total of 54 flour mill workers who work for more than eight-hour shift per day and 54 control subjects matched for sex, age, weight, height, and area of residence were enrolled. Anthropometric measurement was done. Lung function was measured by using a digital portable spirometer (Spiro Pro) based on the ATS guidelines. FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF25%  -75% were measured. Productive cough, dry cough, wheeze, and breathlessness were evaluated using BMRC questionnaire guidelines, administered through face-to-face interview. Result. This study showed statistically significant reduction in the mean values of pulmonary function tests in flour mill workers as compared to their matched controls. Reduction of pulmonary function indices in study subjects was significant for FVC (4.25±0.93 vs. 5.30±0.71, p<0.001), FEV1 (3.46±0.86 vs. 4.50±0.72, p<0.001), PEFR (5.43±2.43 vs. 7.87±2.53, p<0.001), and FEF25%  -75%, (3.87±1.61 vs. 4.60±1.60, p<0.05), but not significant for FEV1/FVC (81.93±12.74 vs. 83.40±12.50, p>0.05). Flour mill workers developed 27.7% of restrictive type and 11.1% of obstructive type of lung disorders. Percentage prevalence of respiratory symptoms was evaluated as dry cough (27.7% vs. 9.3%), productive cough (11.1% vs. 5.6%), wheeze (14.8% vs. 3.8%), and breathlessness (16.6% vs.7.4%) in flour mill workers and controls, respectively. Conclusion. Based on the results of the present study, occupational exposure to flour dust could cause respiratory dysfunction, thereby reducing lung efficiency.

Association of exposure to biomass smoke with reduced pulmonary functions in rural school children- A cross-sectional study findings.

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitthal Khode ◽  
Mahesh Maralihalli ◽  
Goutam Kabbin ◽  
Satish Patil ◽  
Komal Ruikar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
School Children ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Biomass Smoke ◽  
Fold Reduction ◽  
Study Population

Background: Children are at higher risk to develop respiratory diseases when they are exposed to biomass smoke. Very few studies have compared the duration of exposure to pulmonary function tests in children. The purpose of the study was to observe the effect of biomass fuel smoke on respiratory symptoms, lung functions in 30 school going children of aged between 7 to 14 years and to compare these parameters with 30 age and sex matched healthy children of same school. And correlate duration of exposure to pulmonary function tests. Methods: This prospective study cross-sectional study was carried out over six months (August 2018 to January 2019). The selection of study population was carried out from one of the Government primary school. 80 students participated in the study. Whole study population was divided in to two groups. Group-1 consisted 40 school children those exposed to biomass smoke aged between 7 to 14 years as cases. Group-2 consisted same number of sex and age matched controls, those had no exposure to biomass smoke. After relevant history, questionnaire and respiratory examinations, children were subjected to spirometry. Schiller’s Spirovit-SP1 was used. Results: The prevalence of some of the respiratory symptoms in biomass smokers were significant compared to non-smokers. There was significant 1.125 fold reduction in FVC (p=0.003*) and 1.195 fold reduction in FEV1 (p=0.000*) in smokers compared to non-smokers. A significant correlation existed between duration of exposure to FVC (r=-0.508 p=0.001) and FEV1 (r=-0.462 p=0.005). Conclusions: We concluded that biomass smoking significantly alters FVC and FEV1 in children and these parameters are negatively correlated with numbers of hours of exposure.

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