ABSTRACT
Ventilatory capacities of 73 Libyan men working in the Asbestos-Cement Pipe factory in Jenzur, a residential area near Tripoli, Libya and those of 73 age-matched healthy Libyan men unexposed to asbestos were determined. The mean values of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) for men unexposed to asbestos were 3.89 +/- 0.084 and 3.64 +/- 0.082 liters respectively. The respective values for men exposed to asbestos were 3.62 +/- 0.082 and 3.29 +/- 0.097 liters. Thus, there has been a significant decrease in the ventilatory function of the men exposed to asbestos as compared with age-matched unexposed counterparts.
Subject(s)
Adult , Asbestos/adverse effects , Body Burden , Carcinogens/adverse effects , Forced Expiratory Volume , Humans , Libya , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Respiration/drug effects , Respiratory Function Tests , Smoking , Vital CapacityABSTRACT
Peak expiratory flow rates of 578 Libyan boys and 527 Libyan girls aged 12 to 21 years were determined. The prediction formulae that best describe the data are as follows: Boys: PEFR = 160 X Stature 1.87 Girls: PEFR = 130 X Stature2.44 Statistically significant correlations were found between peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and standing height, sitting height, body mass index, body surface area and age in both sexes. Stature (standing height) is marginally better as an index of body size in explaining the variability of the ventilatory capacity. The relationship between PEFR and age in girls appears to correlate with the relationship between PEFR and body mass index. The difference in the slope for girls when compared with that for boys is attributed to the obesity/over weight of the girls.