Harati Bahram, Shahtaheri Seyed Jamaleddin, Karimi Ali, Azam Kamal, Ahmadi Alireza, Afzali Rad Maryam, Harati Ali
Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Dept. of Environmental Chemical Pollutants and Pesticides, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Iran J Public Health. 2018 Feb;47(2):237-245.
This study estimated the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disorders among workers exposed to exposure to volatile organic compound (VOCs) in an automobile manufacturing factory in Tehran, Iran in 2016.
Subjects of this case-control research were included 80 samples including 40 workers exposed to different level of BTEX as well as 40 unexposed individuals were considered as control group. Methods 1501 and 7602 presented by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were used for the sampling and analysis of compounds in the air. Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) was used for analysis of compounds of interest. Six silica samples were collected during the campaign. Silica analyses were performed by using visible absorption spectrophotometry system. Lung functions were evaluated for 80 workers (40 exposed, 40 nonexposed) using spirometry system.
The average amount of total dust and free silica measured in factory were 7.3±1.04 mg.m and 0.017±0.02 mg.m respectively. Average benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylene exposure levels in exposed subject's median were 0.775±0.12, 1.2±2.08, 45.8±8.5, and 42.5±23.9 ppm respectively. Statistical tests showed significant difference between pulmonary function tests (except PEF) of exposed and non-exposed individuals before and after employment (P<0.05). Workers exposed to VOCs presented lower levels of FVC, VC, and PEF than the control group except FEV1/FVC%, FEV1, FEF2575 and FEV1/VC%.
Decline in lung volumes and respiratory symptoms, significant difference associated with the exposure to dust or gas, duration of exposure, and smoking habit. Therefore, lung function tests should be performed before and after the employment to identify sensitive workers candidates.
本研究估算了2016年伊朗德黑兰一家汽车制造厂中接触挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）的工人的呼吸道症状和疾病患病率。
本病例对照研究的对象包括80个样本，其中40名接触不同水平苯系物的工人以及40名未接触者被视为对照组。采用美国国家职业安全与健康研究所（NIOSH）提出的方法1501和7602对空气中的化合物进行采样和分析。使用气相色谱 - 火焰离子化检测器（GC - FID）分析目标化合物。在采样期间收集了6个二氧化硅样本。通过可见吸收分光光度法系统进行二氧化硅分析。使用肺量计系统对80名工人（40名接触者，40名未接触者）进行肺功能评估。
工厂中测得的总粉尘和游离二氧化硅的平均量分别为7.3±1.04 mg/m³和0.017±0.02 mg/m³。接触组受试者苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯的平均暴露水平中位数分别为0.775±0.12、1.2±2.08、45.8±8.5和42.5±23.9 ppm。统计检验表明，接触者和未接触者在就业前后的肺功能测试（除峰值呼气流速外）存在显著差异（P<0.05）。接触VOCs的工人除了第一秒用力呼气容积/用力肺活量百分比（FEV1/FVC%）、第一秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、用力呼气25%至75%肺活量平均流量（FEF2575）和第一秒用力呼气容积/肺活量（FEV1/VC%）外，其用力肺活量（FVC）、肺活量（VC）和峰值呼气流速（PEF）水平均低于对照组。
肺容量和呼吸道症状下降，与接触粉尘或气体、接触持续时间和吸烟习惯存在显著差异。因此，应在就业前后进行肺功能测试，以识别敏感工人。
