Neurobehavioral performance among tobacco industry workers

Although health disorders of active and secondhand smoking have been extensively investigated, researches on tobacco industry workers with special emphasis on neurobehavioral deficits are very limited. Previous reported disorders have been attributed to workplace related factors [e.g., ill-ventilation, damp conditions and dust from grinding tobacco leaves]. Tobacco industry workers are usually young adults with a significant proportion of females. This occupational group is at high exposure risk that necessitates early intervention policies especially in the developing countries. This study aims to assess neurobehavioral performance among tobacco industry Egyptian workers, and its relation with biomarkers of exposure. This is a cross-sectional study. Exposed participants [n= 80] were randomly recruited among workers in a tobacco processing plant at Menoufia governorate. Control participants were selected among workers' relatives who never worked in tobacco industry. All participants filled a predesigned questionnaire on personal and occupational histories and completed a battery of neurobehavioral tests. Pulmonary function tests [FEV 1%] were performed to all participants. Laboratory examination to measure carboxy haemoglobin and urinary cotinine levels was done. Performance on five out of eight administered neurobehavioral tests was significantly lower among exposed than control participants. These tests showed significant dose-response relationship with urinary cotinine levels [ng/mL] and not with carboxy Hb% after controlling for the potential confounders of age, sex, education, and smoking also no statistical difference was detected between both groups regarding FEV1%. Neurobehavioral tests can be used as an intervention tools for earlier detection and evaluation of health effects in tobacco industry than pulmonary function tests

Health disorders among workers in poultry breeding farms

Background and objectives: breeding poultry indoors is increasingly common People who work in these settings may suffer some health disorders. This study aimed at assessing respiratory and skin disorders resulting from occupational exposure among workers in the poultry breeding farms and some associated environmental and work characteristics

Subjects and methods: the study was conducted in three randomly selected chicken breeding farms [Menoufiya Governorate]. All exposed workers [n=50] and a similar number of matched controls were subjected to structured questionnaire full clinical examination, Spiro metric measurements and skin prick testing. Environmental studies of the workplace were also done

Results: levels of dust formaldehyde and ammonia inside the studied farms were within the standard of the Egyptian Environmental Law. Exposed workers reported significantly higher prevalence of cough [70% vs.34%1, wheezes [42% us. 10[degree]hl. and repeated attacks of fever [12% vs.0.096] as compared with controls. Mean values of the percentages of VC, WC, FEV l, FEV l /FVC. F'EF25 and FEF50 of the predicated values were significantly lower among exposed workers than controls. Baseline Spiro metric function results were significantly associated with ventilation conditions of the poultry houses and type of work, being lower in workers of poorly ventilated farm and among breeders. Also 68% of exposed workers had positive skin prick test results to feed, mites, house dust dropping or feather antigens found in the workplace compared to none of the controls. p<0.001. Workers with positive skin test also should significantly lower values of FEV1, FEV1 / FVC and FEF50 than exposed workers with negative skin prick test for any of the studied antigens

Conclusion and recommendations: workers in chicken breeding farms are at risk of developing skin allergy, respiratory symptoms and ventilatory dysfunction of both obstructive and restrictive patterns that were influenced by farm ventilation and type of work. Which should be stressed upon on preempbyement curd periodic medical examinations