Gholami Abdollah, Tajik Reza, Atif Khaula, Zarei Amin Allah, Abbaspour Sedigheh, Teimori-Boghsani Gholamheidar, Attar Mohsen
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Faculty of Health, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
Open Respir Med J. 2020 Jan 23;14:1-7. doi: 10.2174/1874306402014010001. eCollection 2020.
Dust exposure at quarry mines is inevitable and can result in poor air quality. This research aimed to assess pulmonary symptoms and lung functions of dust-exposed workers at an iron-ore mine in eastern Iran.
An environmental cross-sectional study sampled 174 dust-exposed mine workers and 93 unexposed administrative employees as the reference group. A standardized questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was completed in accordance with recommendations of the American Thoracic Society(ATS). Calibrated spirometer measured Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs). Data were analyzed SPSS-21, integrating independent samples t-test, Chi-square and linear or logistic-regression models.
There was no significant variation between dust-exposed and reference groups in terms of age, weight, height, work experience and the number of smokers (>0.05). Mean levels of exposure to inhalable and respirable mineral-dust were 15.09±2.34 and 3.45±2.57 mg/m respectively. Pulmonary capacities of dust-exposed group were considerably decreased as compared to others (Forced Vital Capacity [FVC] 86.55±13.77 . 105.05±21.5; Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second [FEV1] 88.06±16.8 . 105.81±21.55; FEV1/FVC 103.03±18.17 . 93.3±12.49; and Peak Expiratory Flow [PEF] 89.82±22.58 . 98.09±20.60) (<0.001); with a higher prevalence of cough (=0.041), wheezing (=0.032), and dyspnea (=0.035) among formers. Age along with exposure to respirable-dust significantly reduced FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Cigarette consumption attenuated FVC and FEV1 on an average of 5 to 9 units.
Controlled occupational dust-exposure is a definitive pre-requisite to reduce respiratory problems among quarry workers, with an explicit consideration towards mineral- mine workers. Modifiable accomplices like smoking and non-compliance of PPEs usage should be amicably resolved.
采石场的粉尘暴露不可避免，会导致空气质量变差。本研究旨在评估伊朗东部一座铁矿中接触粉尘工人的肺部症状和肺功能。
一项环境横断面研究对174名接触粉尘的矿工和93名未接触粉尘的行政人员作为参照组进行了采样。根据美国胸科学会（ATS）的建议，完成了一份关于呼吸道症状的标准化问卷。用校准后的肺活量计测量肺功能测试（PFTs）。数据采用SPSS - 21进行分析，采用独立样本t检验、卡方检验以及线性或逻辑回归模型。
在年龄、体重、身高、工作经验和吸烟人数方面，接触粉尘组和参照组之间无显著差异（>0.05）。可吸入和可呼吸矿物粉尘的平均暴露水平分别为15.09±2.34和3.45±2.57毫克/立方米。与其他组相比，接触粉尘组的肺容量显著降低（用力肺活量[FVC]86.55±13.77. 105.05±21.5；第1秒用力呼气量[FEV1]88.06±16.8. 105.81±21.55；FEV1/FVC 103.03±18.17. 93.3±12.49；呼气峰值流速[PEF]89.82±22.58. 98.09±20.60）（<0.001）；前者咳嗽（=0.041）、喘息（=0.032）和呼吸困难（=0.035）的患病率更高。年龄以及可呼吸粉尘暴露显著降低了FVC、FEV1和FEV1/FVC。吸烟平均使FVC和FEV1降低5至9个单位。
控制职业性粉尘暴露是减少采石工人呼吸系统问题的决定性前提，尤其要明确考虑矿场工人。应妥善解决吸烟和未正确使用个人防护装备等可改变的因素。
