Spirometric Measurements among Workers of Tasluja Cement Factory

Volume 13 , Issue 1 , January 2010 , Pages 9-14

Authors

¹ College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani

Prolonged exposure to cement is hazardous and studies abroad showed that repeated and

prolonged exposure to cement dust causes respiratory impairment.This study aimed at assessing the

respiratory function among workers of Tasloja cement factory which is one of the biggest cement

factories in the region, For this purpose a group of 139 cement workers with a group of 68 control

subjects were enrolled in this study. The cement workers group was divided into directly exposed and

indirectly exposed. Both groups were examined by spirometry .Spirometric examination included the

determination of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC% and PEF, at the same time their height& weight were

determined. There was a significant decrease in peak expiratory flow(PEF) among the exposed group.

Other spirometric values showed non-significant decrease. The decrease in spirometric measurements

was directly proportional to the duration of employment .

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