European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Occupational pulmonary diseases are more widespread and more disabling than any other group of occupational disease. The lung with its extensive surface area, high blood flow and thin alveolar epithelium is an important site of contact with substance in environment. The inhalation of dust over periods of time leads to proliferation and fibrotic changes in lungs. The workers working in industries suffer from various types of air way diseases like pneumoconiosis, farmer’s lung, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis and asthma. So, the present study was undertaken to study the effects of wood dust on respiratory functions of exposed workers. Materials and methods: The present study was a cross-sectional comparative study. Subjects of experimental and control groups were selected by inclusion and exclusion criteria. There were two groups of experimental subjects (sawmill (n=50) and carpet workers (n=50)), who were non smokers and exposed to industrial dusts. And the subjects of control group were age matched, working in office set up, non smokers and not exposed to industrial dusts (n=100). Their height, weight, age, sex, presence of any respiratory symptoms/diseases, history of smoking and duration of exposure to dusts were documented using a standard case history sheet. Ambient temperature was also recorded. Weight was recorded in kg and height was measured in cm without shoes while standing erect. Pulmonary function parameters were recorded using an electronic spirometer. Result: In our study we found significantly lower PEFR values in their study as compare to healthy individuals in their study which is comparable PEFR (6.8±1.38 Versus 9.33±1.35) in our study. Moreover, we found significant lower FEV1/FVC ratio in their study in wood workers which also comparable with our study showing significant lower FEV1/FVC (89.99±5.70 Versus 77.91±6.6) ratio. Furthermore, MVV significantly lower among wood workers same interpretation was carried by our study with significant lower MVV (77.05±5.8) as compare to healthy individuals (112±4.6). Conclusion: We conclude from this study that workers exposed to pine and fibre wood dust have more respiratory symptoms than control subjects and that such exposure increases the risk of airflow obstruction. So, we recommend that workers should learn to use protective facemasks at sites and use other measures to reduce dust flow into the environment. It is important to take account not only of dust concentration, particle size, and exposure time, but also of a variety of background and individual factors (e.g., specific sort of wood, wood dust related biohazards, or disease history), since they may also contribute significantly to the decreased efficiency of lung function.