Evaluation of Respiratory Symptoms in Workers of a Rubber Factory
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Ayşe Semra Demir Akca 1 * , Nejat Demircan 1, Levent Kart 2, Remzi Altın 1
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1 Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Family Medicine and Chest Diseases, Zonguldak, Turkey
2 Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Istanbul,Turkey
* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Aim: In this study, our objective was to investigate whether there is any relationship between working in the rubber industry and having respiratory symptoms. Method: This study was performed on 141 workers of a rubber factory. Anamnesis, physical examination and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were evaluated. Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) follow-up and skin Prick Test were administered to the patients according to the results of respiratory system complaints, physical examination and PFT. Result: One hundred and forty one workers who accepted to participate in the study consisted of 116 (82.3%) males and 25 females (17.7%). In the comparison group with greater exposure results were obtained in the normal range, however the parameters of FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75(%) were lower in the greater exposure group. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Variability was greater than 20% in 9 (6.3%) workers in the evaluation of PEF-meter follow-up forms. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study has demonstrated that exposure to dust and smoking in rubber industry seem to be associated with the development of occupational respiratory symptoms and diseases. That’s why, control of dust exposure and cessation of smoking is important in prevention of this situations.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Original Article

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/82759

EUR J GEN MED, 2011 - Volume 8 Issue 4, pp. 302-307

Publication date: 11 Oct 2011

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Article Downloads: 953

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