ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the health status of workers exposed to 7-aminocephalosporanic acid( 7-ACA) and6-aminopenicillanic acid( 6-APA) in an antibiotics enterprise. METHODS: Using simple random sampling method,207 workers exposed to 7-ACA and 6-APA from an antibiotic production enterprise were selected as the exposed group,and 162 workers with no dust exposure history from the same antibiotic production enterprise were selected as control group. Health examinations were performed. The health status of the workers were analyzed. RESULTS: The detection of symptoms( chest distress,shortness of breath,cough,wheezing,itchy skin) and allergic diseases( bronchial asthma,allergic rhinitis,allergic dermatitis) in exposed group were higher than those in control group( P < 0. 05). The lung function indexes such as forced vital capacity( FVC),forced expiratory volume in first second( FEV1) and FEV1/ FVC in the exposed group were lower than those in control group( P < 0. 05). There was no significant difference in the lung function indexes,respiratory and skin allergy symptoms,and allergic diseases between 7-ACA subgroup and 6-APA subgroup( P < 0. 017).The incidence of bronchial asthma,allergic rhinitis had statistical differences in the length of dust exposure in service workers( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Workers exposed to 7-ACA and 6-APA have a high occurrence rate of respiratory symptoms. These workers also suffered from occupational diseases such as bronchial asthma,allergic rhinitis and others.