Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
J Voice. 2024 Jul;38(4):940-944. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.01.017. Epub 2022 Mar 3.
Exposure to chlorine gas can cause many problems for people who work in chlorine chemical production factories. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of laryngeal and voice symptoms and related factors among workers in a chlorine chemical production factory.
A case-control study.
A total number of 208 workers, including 138 workers (13 females, 125 males) who work in a chlorine chemical production factory and 70 (three females, 67 males) workers of a non-chlorine producing factory (producing metal materials), participated in the study. All participants completed self-reported questionnaires to investigate laryngeal or voice problems. These questionnaires investigated workplace vocal health, presence of voice or laryngeal problems, voice symptoms and laryngeal discomforts, and complications of voice problems.
The prevalence of laryngeal or voice problems in the workers of the chlorine factory group (18.8%) was higher than in the control group (7%) and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.018). For all of the voice and laryngeal symptoms, workers in the chlorine factory had more symptoms than workers in the control group. Results of a Chi-Square test showed that workers in the chlorine factory had more significant vocal fatigue and dry throat symptoms than the control group (P < 0.05). Regression logistic analyses showed that age (P = 0.008; OR = 1.09; CI = 1.02-1.17), inadequate humidity (P = 0.015; OR = 2.78; CI = 1.21-6.38), and unavailability of water (P = 0.021; OR = 3.80; CI = 1.22-11.76) raised the chances of increasing the laryngeal and voice symptoms among workers. The most common side effects of laryngeal symptoms and voice problems for workers were: difficulty speaking in crowded environments, low self-esteem while talking, need for repetition to understand speech, and anxiety when speaking.
Laryngeal and voice problems were more prevalent in the chlorine factory workers group than in the control group. The factors of age, inadequate humidity, and unavailability of water increased the probability for laryngeal or voice symptoms among chlorine factory workers. These findings indicate the need for further research with this population.
氯气暴露会给在氯气化工厂工作的人带来许多问题。本研究旨在调查氯气化工厂工人中喉和声音症状的流行情况及相关因素。
病例对照研究。
共 208 名工人参加了这项研究，包括 138 名（13 名女性，125 名男性）在氯气化工厂工作的工人和 70 名（3 名女性，67 名男性）非氯气生产工厂（生产金属材料）的工人。所有参与者都完成了自我报告的问卷，以调查喉或声音问题。这些问卷调查了工作场所的声音健康、声音或喉问题的存在、声音症状和喉不适以及声音问题的并发症。
氯气厂工人组（18.8%）喉或声音问题的患病率高于对照组（7%），差异有统计学意义（P=0.018）。对于所有的声音和喉症状，氯气厂工人的症状比对照组工人更多。卡方检验结果表明，氯气厂工人的声音疲劳和咽干症状比对照组更为显著（P<0.05）。回归逻辑分析显示，年龄（P=0.008；OR=1.09；CI=1.02-1.17）、湿度不足（P=0.015；OR=2.78；CI=1.21-6.38）和无水（P=0.021；OR=3.80；CI=1.22-11.76）增加了工人喉和声音症状加重的机会。工人喉症状和声音问题最常见的副作用是：在拥挤的环境中说话困难、说话时自尊心低、需要重复才能理解讲话、说话时焦虑。
氯气厂工人组的喉和声音问题比对照组更为普遍。年龄、湿度不足和无水等因素增加了氯气厂工人发生喉或声音症状的概率。这些发现表明需要对这一人群进行进一步研究。
