TY - JOUR
T1 - Respiratory function in pesticide workers
AU - Zuskin, Eugenija
AU - Mustajbegovic, Jadranka
AU - Schachter, E. Neil
AU - Kern, Josipa
AU - Deckovic-Vukres, Vlasta
AU - Trosic, Ivancica
AU - Chiarelli, Angelo
PY - 2008/11
Y1 - 2008/11
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Pesticide aerosols are frequently toxic irritants associated with respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function abnormalities in 82 workers employed in processing pesticides and in 60 control workers not exposed to irritants and employed in a soft drink bottling plant. RESULTS: The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was greater among pesticide workers than among controls. A logistic regression analysis shows differences between men and women. There was a high prevalence of acute symptoms during the work shift in pesticide workers. The data on ventilatory capacity indicates significant reductions in all tests compared to predicted. Multivariate analysis of lung function showed differences in smoking and work exposure effects in men and women. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that duration of work exposure in the pesticide processing industry may be associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes. These effects appear to be aggravated by smoking.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Pesticide aerosols are frequently toxic irritants associated with respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function abnormalities in 82 workers employed in processing pesticides and in 60 control workers not exposed to irritants and employed in a soft drink bottling plant. RESULTS: The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was greater among pesticide workers than among controls. A logistic regression analysis shows differences between men and women. There was a high prevalence of acute symptoms during the work shift in pesticide workers. The data on ventilatory capacity indicates significant reductions in all tests compared to predicted. Multivariate analysis of lung function showed differences in smoking and work exposure effects in men and women. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that duration of work exposure in the pesticide processing industry may be associated with the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes. These effects appear to be aggravated by smoking.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=65849133648&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181845f6c
DO - 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181845f6c
M3 - Article
C2 - 19001956
AN - SCOPUS:65849133648
SN - 1076-2752
VL - 50
SP - 1299
EP - 1305
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
IS - 11
ER -