Indian Journal of Physiology
and Pharmacology

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Volume 58 - Number 2 April - 2014 (Current issue) ISSN 0019-5499

Pulmonary Function Parameters in Workers of Woolen Industry

Ritu Purohit, Hem Lata, Lily Walia and Jagdeep Whig


Abstract

There is an increase in proportion of workers suffering from occupational diseases. In occupational respiratory diseases, pulmonary function tests are the most important and widely used diagnostic tool. Limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of wool dust on pulmonary function parameters. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the pulmonary function parameters in workers of woolen industry. This study was done on 150 subjects of either gender who were divided into two groups of 75 each. Group I comprised of healthy subjects who served as controls and group II included workers of woolen industry. The values of lung function parameters i.e. volumes and flow rates in these workers were found to be lower than the healthy controls. The significant reduction in percentage predicted values of FEV (82 vs 59), FVC (79 vs 63) and MVV (77 vs 64) in workers as compared to healthy controls indicates obstructive pattern of respiratory abnormality. In male workers, percentage predicted FEV1 % was significantly lower. The values of all other parameters were lower in female workers. There was a significant decrease in FEV1 and FVC with increase in age in group I and this negative correlation was statistically significant. The decrease in respiratory volumes and flow rates was more with increase in duration of exposure to wool dust. It can be concluded that wool dust present in environment of woolen industry affected the pulmonary function parameters of the workers leading to obstructive pattern of respiratory changes.


How to cite this article : Ritu Purohit, Hem Lata, Lily Walia and Jagdeep Whig. Pulmonary Function Parameters in Workers of Woolen Industry. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2014; 58(2) : 120-127