Evaluation of lung function in relation to employment years among workers exposed to cement dust in Qena cement factory

Abstract

Background: Dust is generated by nearly all manufacturing steps within a Portland cement facility. Exposure to dust has the potential to impact respiratory function. Objectives: The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the duration of exposure to cement dust on the pulmonary function of individuals employed in cement factories in Qena city, furthermore to assess the prevalence and distribution of respiratory impairment resulting from dust inhalation. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study, carried out on 100 cement industry workers in Qena who exposed to cement dust. They divided into 2 groups according to employment years in the factory (≤10 years and more than 10 years). Lung function tests including; [FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC] were measured. Results: A significant reduction in the mean values of all the lung parameters among the workers employed more than 10 years compared with those employed ≤10 years. with p value (0.002, 0.014 and 0.000 considerably), there was a considerable variance between the 2 groups regarding all the spirometric pattern including [normal, obstructive and restrictive pattern] with p value (0.000 respectively). There is strong negative correlation between number of working years and FCV and FEV1. Conclusion: The lung function of individuals employed in cement factories had shown to be declined, accompanied by atypical spirometric patterns in relation to prolonged exposure to cement dust.

Keywords

• cement dust working years
• working years
• spirometric parameters