Maduka S O, Osim E E, Nneli R O, Anyabolu A E
Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Niger J Physiol Sci. 2009 Dec;24(2):195-202. doi: 10.4314/njps.v24i2.52930.
The effect of occupational exposure to local powdered tobacco (snuff) on pulmonary function was studied. Snuff industry workers in Onitsha and Enugu markets were studied and compared with age, weight, and height-matched control not exposed to any known air pollutant. The pulmonary indices studied include forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1] and ratio of FEV1/FVC as percentage using a vitalograph spirometer and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate [PEFR], using a mini Wright Peak Expiratory Flow Meter. The respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms frequently associated with these workers were also analyzed and dust sampling in both test and control environments was also done. The mean anthropometric parameters, [age, height and body weight] between the two groups were not statistically different. The results obtained showed statistically significant impairment of lung function of workers chronically exposed to snuff. FVC, FEV1 and PEFR in the exposed [test] subjects were significantly decreased in comparison with the control subjects [P<0.05]. However, the mean value of FEV1/FVC [%] of the test subjects was 86.8% which was within the normal range and was not significantly different from control. This signified that the test subjects had restrictive pattern of lung function defect. All respiratory symptoms, such as cough, chest tightness had a higher prevalence in test subjects than their control group. The lung function indices of snuff-producing workers proportionately decreased with their length of exposure in the industry. The respirable dust level in the vicinity [indoor] of the snuff-workers [1.11+/-0.35 mg/m3] was significantly [P<0.001] higher than in the control environment[0.37+/-0.086 mg/m3]. Although it was not possible to determine all the factors that may be responsible for lung function impairment, the dust sampling result showed that chronic exposure to Nigerian snuff [powered tobacco] dust impairs lung function and the effect is progressive with time.
研究了职业性接触当地粉末状烟草（鼻烟）对肺功能的影响。对奥尼查和埃努古市场的鼻烟行业工人进行了研究，并与年龄、体重和身高匹配且未接触任何已知空气污染物的对照组进行了比较。所研究的肺指标包括用力肺活量[FVC]、一秒用力呼气量[FEV1]以及使用肺活量计测量的FEV1/FVC百分比，和使用小型赖特呼气峰值流量计测量的呼气峰值流速[PEFR]。还分析了这些工人经常出现呼吸和非呼吸症状，并在测试和对照环境中进行了粉尘采样。两组之间的平均人体测量参数（年龄、身高和体重）无统计学差异。所得结果显示，长期接触鼻烟的工人肺功能有统计学意义的损害。与对照组相比，暴露（测试）组受试者的FVC、FEV1和PEFR显著降低[P<0.05]。然而，测试组受试者的FEV1/FVC [%]平均值为86.8%，在正常范围内，与对照组无显著差异。这表明测试组受试者存在限制性肺功能缺陷模式。所有呼吸症状，如咳嗽、胸闷，在测试组中的患病率高于对照组。鼻烟生产工人的肺功能指标随其在该行业的暴露时间成比例下降。鼻烟工人附近（室内）的可吸入粉尘水平[1.11±0.35 mg/m3]显著高于对照环境[0.37±0.086 mg/m3][P<0.001]。虽然无法确定所有可能导致肺功能损害的因素，但粉尘采样结果表明，长期接触尼日利亚鼻烟（粉末状烟草）粉尘会损害肺功能，且这种影响会随着时间的推移而加重。
